Treating sinus infections

Sinus infections are painful occurrences that often lead physicians to prescribe antibiotics, often upon the urging of uncomfortable patients. In fact, sinus infections (also known as "acute sinusitis"), which produce severe cold-like symptoms of runny nose and headache, are the fifth most common reason for prescribing antibiotics among U.S. adults. Yet, a recent study shows that antibiotics do not help fight most sinus infections. The fact is that doctors cannot tell if a sinus infection is caused by bacteria or by a virus, in which case antibiotics are useless.

In the latter case, use of antibiotics is not only ineffective, it also fuels the evolution of extremely problematic drug-resistant bacteria. Fewer than two percent of sinus infections are bacterial.

HINT: Instead of automatically prescribing antibiotics for patients with sinus infections, it may be best to monitor the situation and only prescribe antibiotics if symptoms last longer than 10 days and keep worsening, or improve and get worse again.

For more information about this subject please call us at (208) 664-6664. We are experts in medicine and its side effects. At Interlake Pharmacy, we pride ourselves on our extensive knowledge on both over-the-counter medications and prescribed medicine. If you ever have a question about medicine, and need a trusted source for answers please come to our pharmacy or call us to speak to a licensed pharmacist. We believe in personal customer service. We always have time to talk with you.

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