ANTIBIOTICS FOR SINUS INFECTION
Sinusitisisthe mostcommoncomplicationof acute respiratoryviral infections(ARVI).Thisdisease
occurs withthe same frequencyinmale andfemale patients.Approximately10% of adultpopulation
and 5% of children sufferfromsome formof sinusitis.
Duringthe initial periodof the disease,the virusmultipliesinthe throat,nose andnasopharynx;this
may cause a runny nose,coughandscratchy throat. Once the virusisin the blood,the bodybeginsto
produce antibodiesthatsubsequentlyclearthe bloodandthe disease symptomsweaken.If thisdoes
not happen,the disease willprogressthatmayrequire the use of antibiotics.
Despite the factthat ARVIisa virus,againstwhichantibioticsare ineffective,sinusitis isaccompanied
withbacterial infection.Inthiscase,differenttypesof antibioticscanbe recommended.
Antibioticsforthe treatmentof sinusinfectioncanbe usedregardlessof the diseaseseverity –mild,
moderate orsevere.There are some clinical formsof the disease:
 Acute sinusitis(lessthan3months).
 Chronicsinusitis(more than3months).
 Recurrentacute sinusitis(afewcasesperyear).
 Exacerbationof chronicsinusitis(the appearance of new symptomsorworseningof the
existing).
In properuse of antibiotics,the followingsymptomsof sinusinfectionweakenanddisappear:
 nasal congestion;
 painin the head;
 intracranial pressure;
 temperature above 37.5 degreesCelsius;
 purulentdischarge fromthe nose ormouth.
Antibioticsshouldbe chosenonthe basisof data onthe predominantpathogensof sinusitis.Inaddition,
the severityof the patient’sconditionandresistance of pathogenscanaffectthe choice of drugs.The
mainpathogensare:
 Haemophilusinfluenzae,Streptococcuspneumoniae andothers–acute sinusitis,recurrent
acute sinusitisandexacerbationof chronicsinusitis.
 Anaerobes,gram-negative bacteria,Staphylococcusaureus,Haemophilusinfluenzae,
Streptococcuspneumoniae,fungi,andothers –chronic sinusitis.
To kill orto inhibit the bacterial growthof S.pneumoniae andH.influenzae,medicationscontaining
active substance Amoxicillinora combinationof substancesAmoxicillin/Clavulanate potassiumare
mostoftenused.Youcan buythese antibioticsunderthe original trade namesPrevpac,Moxatag,

Larotid,Augmentin,Amoxilorunderthe international nonproprietaryname AmoxicillinandClavulanate
potassium.
If these drugsare ineffectiveand/orsinusinfectioniscausedbyotherpathogens,itispossibletouse
alternative antibiotics–Azithromycin,Cefaclor,Clarithromycin,Doxycyclineandothers.Typically,these
drugsare prescribedinmoderate sinusinfection.
Severe acute sinusitisoccursrarely.Forthe treatmentof thisdisease form, itisalsopossibletouse
drugscontainingAmoxicillinand/orClavulanatepotassiumandsome more antibiotics,suchas:
 Cephalosporins
 Ampicillin/sulbactam
In sinusinfection,the methodof antibioticadministrationcandependonthe diseaseseverity.Mildand
moderate sinusitisis usuallytreatedbymeansof oral antibiotics(tablets,capsules).Insevere sinusitis,it
ispossible touse drugsintendedforintravenousadministration.Asthe general state improves,
antibioticsintendedfororal intake canbe used.
The durationof treatingsinusinfectiondependsonthe formand severityof the disease.Inacute
sinusitis,antibacterial therapyismostoftencarriedoutwithin7-10days,but inexacerbationof chronic
sinusitis –upto 21 days. Social indications,suspectedcomplicationsandotherfactorscan become a
reasonfor hospitalization.
One of the bestwaysto avoidsinusitisdiseaseandantibioticsuse isprevention.Since ARVIandsinus
infectionmainlyappearincoldseason,strengtheningthe immunesystemisthe basisof prevention.The
easiestwaytostrengthenthe immune systemistoconsume asufficientamountof vitaminsand
preventionof hypothermia.
How It Works
Antibioticskill orpreventthe growthof bacteriathatcause some sinusinfections.
Acute sinusitis
Whenusingantibioticstotreatacute sinusitis,itmaybe helpfultorememberthat:
 The numberof daysyoutake antibioticsdependsonyourgeneral health,how seriousyour
sinusitisis,andthe type of antibioticyouare taking.
 A differentantibioticmaybe neededif yourconditiondoesnotbegintoimprove within3to5
days.
 Othermedicines,suchasdecongestants,inhaledcorticosteroids,andmedicinesthathelpthin
the mucus (mucolytics),maybe prescribedaswell toimprove sinusdrainage.
Chronic sinusitis

Whenusingantibioticstotreatchronic(long-term) sinusitis,itmaybe helpful torememberthat:
 The numberof daysyoutake antibioticsdependsonyourgeneral health,how seriousyour
sinusitisis,andthe type of antibioticyouare taking.
 The choice of antibioticoftendependsonwhichantibioticshave workedwell foryouinthe
past.If an antibioticnormallyusedtotreatyoursinusitiswassuccessful inthe past,itmaybe
usedagain.If it didnot workverywell,adifferentantibioticmaybe tried.
 Othermedicines,suchasdecongestants,inhaledcorticosteroids,andmedicinesthathelpthin
the mucus (mucolytics),maybe prescribedaswell toimprove sinusdrainage.
Why It Is Used
Antibioticsmaybe neededwhensymptomsof sinusitisdonotrespondtohome treatment,symptoms
are severe,orcomplications(suchaspusforminginsinuscavities) develop.
 Amoxicillinisoftenthe firstchoice intreatingsinusitisbecause itisusuallyeffective andhasfew
side effects.Itshouldnotbe usedif you are allergictoamoxicillinorhave beendiagnosedwith
mononucleosis.
 Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole maybe prescribedforpeople whoare allergictoamoxicillin.
Otherantibioticsmaybe prescribedtotreatbacterial infectionsthatare resistanttoamoxicillinand
trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
How Well It Works
Antibiotictreatmentof sinusitisisgenerallysafe andveryeffective.Mostpeople recovercompletely
whentheyare treatedwithantibiotics.
Side Effects
All medicineshave side effects.Butmanypeople don’tfeel the sideeffects,ortheyare able todeal with
them.Askyourpharmacistabout the side effectsof eachmedicineyoutake.Side effectsare alsolisted
inthe informationthatcomeswithyourmedicine.
Here are some importantthingsto thinkabout:
 Usuallythe benefitsof the medicineare more importantthananyminorside effects.
 Side effectsmaygoawayafter youtake the medicine forawhile.
 If side effectsstill botheryouandyouwonderif youshouldkeeptakingthe medicine, call your
doctor.He or she may be able to loweryourdose or change your medicine.Donotsuddenly
quittakingyourmedicine unlessyourdoctortellsyouto.
 Trouble breathing.
 Swellingof yourface,lips,tongue,orthroat.
Call yourdoctor if you have:

 Hives.
 Faintingorlightheadedness.
Commonside effectsof thismedicine include:
 Nauseaandvomiting.
 Diarrhea.
 Skinrash.
See Drug Reference forafull listof side effects.(DrugReference isnotavailable inall systems.)
What To Think About
It isimportantto take all of the medicine yourdoctorprescribes.Keeptakingitevenafteryoubeginto
feel better.Thisisespeciallyimportantwhentreatingsinusitisbecause the antibioticsdonoteasily
penetrate the mucusinside the sinuses.
Your doctor will tryto selectanantibioticthatismostlikelytokill the bacteriacausingyoursinusitis.If
the antibioticfailstocure yoursinusitis,anothermaybe tried.If yourconditiondoesnotimprove,
furthertestingmaybe neededtofindwhichantibiotic will workbestforyou.
Taking medicine
Medicine isone of the many toolsyourdoctor hasto treat a healthproblem.Takingmedicineasyour
doctor suggestswill improve yourhealthandmaypreventfuture problems.If youdon’ttake your
medicinesproperly,youmaybe puttingyourhealth(andperhapsyourlife) atrisk.
There are manyreasonswhypeople have trouble takingtheirmedicine.Butinmostcases,there is
somethingyoucando. Forsuggestionsonhow to workaroundcommonproblems,see the topicTaking
MedicinesasPrescribed.
Advice for women
If you are pregnant,breast-feeding,orplanningtogetpregnant,donotuse any medicinesunlessyour
doctor tellsyouto.Some medicinescanharm yourbaby.Thisincludesprescriptionandover-the-
countermedicines,vitamins,herbs,andsupplements.Andmake sure thatall yourdoctors know that
youare pregnant,breast-feeding,orplanningtogetpregnant.
Checkups
Follow-upcare isakeypart of yourtreatmentandsafety.Be sure to make and go to all appointments,
and call your doctorif you are havingproblems.It’salsoagoodideato know yourtestresultsandkeep
a listof the medicinesyoutake.
For more informationvisitusourwebsite:http://www.healthinfi.com