A good sinus infection treatment can go a long way in bringing relief from the discomfort associated with this condition. A sinus infection, also known as sinusitis, is a condition characterized by the swelling of the nasal passages and sinuses. The sinuses provide protection from bacteria and viruses. If this protective system is interrupted, the bacteria can get into the sinuses and cause an infection.
A person who has a sinus infection may feel pressure on the eyes, cheeks or nose. Other symptoms include a headache, fever, cough, nasal congestion with thick mucus, and bad breath. The recovery period for an acute sinus infection is about 10 days. A chronic sinus infection lasts twice as long.
Nasal Congestion Relief
There are some things a patient can do at home to help clear the nasal passages. An effective way to do this is to breathe in steam. This can be accomplished by taking a hot shower and inhaling the steam, or through the use of a humidifier. Do this at least twice a day for best results. Another way to promote nasal congestion relief is to drink plenty of fluids including hot tea.
Some people have allergies along with their sinus infections. In these instances, an allergy nasal spray can be very helpful. An allergy nasal spray can help reduce the inflammation in the sinuses, allowing them to drain. It is important to limit the use of an allergy nasal spray to just a few days. Longer use can increase the inflammation of nasal passages. Other post nasal drip remedies include decongestants and nose drops.
Sinus Infection Antibiotics
The purpose of sinus infection antibiotics is to eliminate the bacteria in the sinus cavities. The bacteria are the source of the infection. Patients should continue taking antibiotics until they are used up, even if they are feeling better before they have completed the treatment. This will help ensure that all of the bacteria have been wiped out.
Some of the more common sinus infection antibiotics include amoxicillin (Amoxil, Polymox, or Trimox), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Cotrim, or Septra), and loracarbef (Lorabid). Patients are generally treated with amoxicillin. Physicians usually reserve the more complex antibiotics for the more severe sinus infections in order to avoid over using them, which could result in the bacteria developing a resistance to the medications.
Surgery
For some people, the only hope for a sinus infection cure is through surgery. Candidates for surgery include patients who are still having symptoms even after using antibiotics and other therapies. Many of these patients will have a CT scan that shows signs of a sinus infection as well as possible complications.
The surgery involves opening the nasal passages of the sinuses, so that the sinuses can drain. If there are any polyps in the nasal passages, surgeons will remove those as well. Some patients may have a crooked nasal septum. If that is the case, surgeons will correct it to allow better airflow. The patient may still need nasal steroids and antibiotics for a complete sinus infection cure.
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References
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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