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Antibiotics are parts of the treatment methods usually recommended for sinusitis. In fact, for many years, antibiotic therapy has been the single most important therapy against bad cases of sinus infection. Over the years, however, its popularity has declined. It has been subject to inappropriate usage and has been clinically proven to be less effective with continued use, since bacteria develop immunity against certain types of antibiotics. Nevertheless, it is still favored as one of the least invasive and most effective sinusitis treatments. What is the appropriate use of antibiotics? The ineffectiveness of antibiotics against sinusitis is partially caused by inappropriate use. Usually, patients decide for themselves to use antibiotics without first seeking their physician's advice. Tip: If you are thinking of including antibiotics among your sinusitis treatment methods, have yourself checked first by your doctor. Will the bacteria respond to the antibiotic? The best sinusitis antibiotics are those that specifically kill or stop the activities of the causative agent. There are at least 5 types of bacteria known to cause sinusitis symptoms. These are Streptococcus pneumonia, H. influenza, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and other streptococcal strains. For an antibiotic to help with the symptoms sinusitis, its properties should fit the activities of its targeted bacteria. Otherwise, it will fail to work. Is my sinusitis caused by a type of bacteria or by something else? It is also very important to first establish that a type of bacteria is actually causing the sinusitis symptoms. Sinusitis is not exclusive to bacteria. Fungi, allergens, and viruses are also known to cause the sinus infections. It is, thus, very important to rule out the possibility that other agents are causing the symptoms. If you have contracted sinusitis-causing bacteria, you can rely on antibiotics to bring you relief from symptoms. But viral agents and other foreign bodies do not respond to antibiotics. What drug spectrum should I choose? The spectrum of the available antibiotics is also a factor in determining the best sinusitis antibiotics to use. There are two antibiotics spectrums – broad spectrum and narrow spectrum. These define the range of bacteria an antibiotic can respond to. a. Narrow-spectrum antibiotics – This type helps with only a few types of bacteria. Because these are often the first line of defense against bacterial sinusitis, they are the more popular options. These include favorite choices like Penicillin (Amoxicillin) and Macrolides (Clarithromycin and Erythromycin). Both types work to interfere with the growth mechanism of the bacteria they are targeting. b. Broad-spectrum antibiotics – This type is more expensive, but not necessarily more effective. These only come in handy when the body does not respond to narrow-spectrum antibiotics. These include variants like Cephalosporins and Fluoroquinolones. There is the risk of immunity against the properties of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Do I really need to use antibiotics? Antibiotics are not always called for to treat sinusitis because more often than not, the bacteria that have caused the symptoms are attacked and killed by the body. It is not surprising then that symptoms subside often without treatment. It should not be taken for granted, though, that some types of bacteria can be quite persistent at causing symptoms and that there are those that cannot be taken down by the immune system defenses without help. When this happens, seek your physician's recommendations on the use of antibiotics. For more information, please visit http://www.sinusdynamics.com/
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