Sinusitis and the use of antibiotics
Sinusitis is the inflammation of the sinuses, thus doctors and previous medical literature treats this medical problem with antibiotics. However, a new study found out that antibiotics and steroid sprays do little to cure sinus infections.
The latest study, published in December in The Journal of the American Medical Association, looked at 240 cases. The subjects were assigned to four groups for different treatments: a full amoxicillin course for a week along with 400 units of steroid spray for 10 days, just the spray, just the amoxicillin or just a placebo. The treatments were no better than placebo, a finding shown in studies of children. The reason is not entirely clear, but researchers suspect that antibiotics may not be very good at reaching the sinuses. NY Times
Their recommendation? Take ibuprofen, perform steam inhalation or use salt water to flush the nasal cavity. Treatment is more of symptomatic.
