Sinus Infection Treatments

The first thing a lot of people think about, when they start having sinus trouble is going to the doctor and getting an antibiotic.  Naturally, they want to feel better quickly, so normal activities can resume.  Unfortunately, this is not always the best remedy.  Sinus infection treatment largely depends on the type and frequency of the malady.

In your Kitchen

Sometimes the best treatment for a sinus infection is found in your own kitchen. Going to the doctor and paying for a round of antibiotics is useless, because the cause is not bacterial.  For many individuals, the source of their pain and discomfort is a virus or allergies.
If, after a week of home remedies, you do not feel better, then check with the doctor to determine whether another underlying illness is causing so much pain and discomfort. Start by:

• Drinking plenty of fluids – a person should drink at least eight glasses of water per day, in order to stay properly hydrated.  Orange juice does not count.  A lot of people do not drink the recommended amount.  It will help the mucus run out of your nose, hopefully taking the infection as well.
• Steam – sitting over a pot of steaming water, with a towel over your head, is not just something you see in the movies.  It really can help loosen up the gunk in the sinuses.  If you don’t want to bend over the stove, turn the shower to hot and sit in the bathroom.  Roll a towel up under the door, so you essentially create your own sauna. Be sure to open the door or window, and leave the fan on, when you exit the room.  You want the steam to dissipate, and the room to dry out, between sinus treatments.  Otherwise, you can develop a mold problem that will only exacerbate sinus problems.
• Salt Water – Even for those that have a prescription for antibiotics, the doctor may also recommend and over-the-counter nasal rinse.  If you ask what it is, the solution is actually one quarter teaspoon of salt to one cup warm water.  If you own a bulb syringe, you have all that you need to make it at home.  It helps the nasal passages to drain, and reduces the inflammation.

You can find a whole list of home remedies for sinus infection treatments.  But, these are the main ones.  Of course, you will need the typical pain killers to reduce the pain and discomfort of the illness.
However, if you are an individual that suffers from fungal infections, it can be a serious and sometimes fatal health issue.  Patients who are undergoing therapies for cancer or who already have diseases that compromise immunity should let their physician know right away, if they have a sinus infection.  Here are possible treatments:

• Endoscopic surgery – if the sinuses have been invaded by fungus, the doctor may have to remove it.  Some types can be very invasive and need to be cleaned out before prescribing further treatment.  So, the first step will likely be some sort of x-rays to determine the extent of the infection.
• Anti-Fungal – antibiotics will be of no use, if the infection is fungal.  The doctor will prescribe something that will actually kill the fungus, before it has a chance to grow and do any other damage.
• Finding the source – for individuals that suffer from fungal infections, it is important to find out where they are coming in contact with fungus, especially if this is a recurrent problem.  Is there fungus in the home or the workplace?  While you may thoroughly clean with something to kill fungus, it is probably a good idea to hire a professional to look for it, and help you learn how to keep it from coming back.

When the home treatments do not work, it is time to see a doctor, even if you are otherwise healthy.  You probably came into contact with bacteria and have the type of infection that will respond well to antibiotics.  However, it is important to finish the prescription, even after the symptoms are gone.

Many people make the mistake of throwing the remaining pills away, when they start feeling better.  In many cases, they come down with another sinus infection very soon.  While they felt great, the infection was not totally gone.  Once the sinus infection treatments stop, it has a chance to come back and make life miserable again.

In short, sinus infection treatments depend on the actual cause of the illness.  Viral infections simply have to run their course.  Fungal infections will not respond to antibiotics, unlike bacterial infections.  But, prescribe treatments should be followed to the letter, so another sinus infection won’t pay an unexpected visit in the very near future.

Sinus Infection Antibiotics

Contrary to popular belief, sinus infection antibiotics are not recommended in every case.  In fact, there are instances when they will do more harm than good.  However, when doctors prescribe antibiotics, other treatment options can also help to clear up the infection more quickly and provide more immediate relief for the pain and discomfort.

Viral Sinus Infections

Some people suffer a sinus infection soon after a bout with a cold or the flu.  Both of these illnesses are viruses and cannot be cured by taking antibiotics.  The same can be said when the source of the sinus trouble is a virus.

Many patients want to go to the doctor and get a pill that will make them feel better and ready to go back to work the next day.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way.  In fact, taking antibiotic when they aren’t really needed can do more harm than good.

Studies have shown that over-prescribing antibiotics can actually help the body build up immunity to their medicinal benefits.  In other words, if the doctor prescribes an antibiotic just to make the patient happy, the next time that medicine is really needed, it will not work as well to get rid of an infection.

So, for individuals with viral sinus infections, the best treatments can be purchased at the local drug store over-the-counter.  It is important to drink plenty of fluids, to help keep the mucus flowing out of the body.

Antihistamines will help with that as well.  There are also medicines that will aid in breaking up the mucus.  For the pain and discomfort ibuprofen and Tylenol will help reduce the swelling and knock out the pain.  Warm compresses also help with the drainage and ease that tight, stuffy feeling.
Save the antibiotics for a bacterial infection, when they will do the most good.

Fungal Sinus Infection

Many people that suffer from frequent or chronic sinus trouble actually may have a fungal sinus infection.  The body naturally harbors fungus.  But, as in the event of a sinus infection, they can literally grow out of control.  Unfortunately, when this happens, sinus infection antibiotics are useless.

Antibiotics do not kill fungus.  Patients may not understand that they might as well be swallowing sugar pills for all of the good they will do. Generally, doctors will order x-rays or an MRI to confirm a fungal infection.  If the fungus has congregated in the sinuses, it may take endoscopy sinus surgery to remove the fungus, before prescribing any other treatment.

In some cases, a fungal infection can be fatal.  Patients that already have compromised immune systems due to cancer treatments or auto-immune diseases are more susceptible to a particularly difficult strain of sinus infection.  Thus, it is vital to seek medical help, if an individual has had a fungal infection in the past, or has other health issues that might lower their natural ability to fight off disease.

Instead of sinus infection antibiotics, the doctor will prescribe an anti-fungal medication to get rid of the problem.  If sinus trouble has become a chronic condition, the doctor will discuss home remedies to help prevent flair ups and other courses of treatment to promote healthy sinuses.  However, it may be a life-time of care and caution to reduce the instances of illness.

Bacterial Sinus Infection

The only time that sinus infection antibiotics are really helpful is when the patient has a bacterial sinus infection.  Antibiotics like amoxicillin and augmentin work well to quickly bring about healthy sinuses.  What the doctor prescribes will largely depend on the patient’s allergies.  Some are allergic to penicillin, so amoxicillin would be harmful; others might have allergies against sulfa-based antibiotics.  So, it is very important that the doctor know a patient’s medical history, before treating a bacterial infection.

In addition to the antibiotic, the doctor will likely recommend over-the-counter medications to relieve the pain and pressure of sinus trouble, until the antibiotic has done its job.  Patients can get a lot of relief from the standard pain kills, decongestants, and warm compresses.

Generally, sinus infection antibiotics make most patients feel better within a day or two.  But, it is important to finish the course of treatment.  Feeling great and not completing the antibiotics prescribed may only lead to an immediate return of the infection and its symptoms, because the infection was never totally gone.

In short, sinus infection antibiotics are not always the answer to sinus pain and discomfort.  If the infection is based on a virus or a fungus, antibiotics are just a waste of money and can ultimately reduce their effectiveness, when really needed.  Only if the sinus trouble is based on a bacterial infection can antibiotics do any good.  In many cases, over-the-counter treatments will take care of the problem.  If the symptoms persist for a couple of weeks, see a doctor.