Sinus Infection Treatments
There are many different sinus medications and ways to treat sinus infections
and/or sinusitis. The type of treatment that will work best for you entirely
depends on the kind of sinusitis and/or sinus infection you have. As previously
discussed, acute sinusitis often requires a decongestant to help treat the
infection. But there are also more complicated sinus infection treatments
reserved for the more severe cases of chronic sinusitis.
Severe Sinus Infection Treatments
There are two types of chronic sinusitis: bacterial chronic sinusitis and
non-infectious sinusitis. Both of these types of sinus infections can prove very
harmful if not treated properly. Depending on what type of chronic sinusitis you
have and the severity of the case, there are four main sinus medications and/or
treatments that are commonly prescribed: oral antibiotics, nebulized
antibiotics, intravenous antibiotics, and sinus surgery options.
A broad-spectrum oral antibiotic is most often prescribed to aid in the
treatment of chronic sinusitis. As indicated in the name, oral antibiotics are
taken orally, and are usually ingested every day for 2-3 weeks. If after some
time the broad-spectrum oral antibiotics don't appear to be helping their
patients' bouts with chronic sinusitis, doctors will often take a sample of the
infection in order to determine exactly what type of infection their patient
has, and then prescribe an antibiotic specifically designed to help with that
type of infection.
Mobilized antibiotics differ from oral antibiotics in that they treat the
infection topically. Generally, this type of antibiotic is taken through the
nose (similar to nose spray), which allows the antibiotic to get directly to the
affected sinus. This type of antibiotic is also taken from 2-3 weeks.
In special cases, doctors suggest an intravenous antibiotic. This type of
antibiotic is injected directly into the blood stream. This treatment generally
lasts 4-6 weeks.
And as a last resort, sinus surgery options are explored. Sinus surgery is
reserved only for extreme cases of chronic sinusitis. Most of these types of
surgeries are endoscope, which means that the doctor can perform the operation
without making any facial incisions. While this surgery doesn't last long (1-3
hours), a full recovery can last up to several weeks.
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