Sinusitis can be treated with the help of medications and home remedies. The main goals of sinusitis treatment are improving drainage of the mucus and reduction of the swelling of the sinusitis. It also aims at relieving the pain and pressure and cleaning up of any infection. It also prevents the formation of scar tissue and avoids the damage to the tissue and nose lining.

Medications are used for treating sinusitis when it is caused by bacterial infection. The duration of treatment is different depending on the severity like three days or can even last to a week. The medications that are used for treating sinusitis include a combination of:

• Decongestants like pseudoephedrine hydrochloride. This reduces the swelling of the mucus membrane in the nose.

• Antibiotics like amoxicillin. It kills the bacteria causing harm to our body.

• Analgesics like acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen that relieves the pain.

• Corticosteroids like prednisone or beclomethasone dipropionate that reduce the inflammation of the nasal passage. These medications can also be inhaled as nasal spray.

• Mucolytics like guaifenesin that thin the mucus.

The inhaled antibiotics are a new line of treatment for chronic sinusitis. Studies have shown that since the inhaled antibiotics are in direct contact with the mucous membrane and can be effective when other lines of treatment fail. In the beginning you might feel better with the help of antibiotics and home remedies, but there are chances of symptoms becoming worse and you might need additional treatment.

Usually, acute sinusitis lasts for less than 4 weeks and people with this problem improve on their own without the help of any antibiotic treatment. Sinusitis is usually caused by viral infections, which do not show any response to antibiotics. In fact the antibiotics can lead to some side effects like diarrhea or stomach upset and you might also become resistant to the antibiotics in future. Talking to the doctor will help you know whether antibiotics will be effective for the treatment.

After going through 2 or 3 incidences of the infection you might be able to get to know the symptoms of the infection early. Making use of steam to get relief from nasal congestion will prevent the need of antibiotics. The duration of antibiotics depends on the severity of the condition and also the antibiotic that has been prescribed. When an antibiotic is prescribed, it is better to complete the course of the medication. If the symptoms become worse during the antibiotic treatment the health provider should be informed immediately. The doctor might also prescribe decongestants and medicines that would thin the mucus.

Cases of chronic sinusitis are difficult to treat and need longer courses of treatments. The doctor might prescribe a combination of antibiotics and also a corticosteroid nasal spray that would help in reducing the inflammation and swelling of the lining of nasal passage. People with a weak immune system are at a greater risk of picking sinusitis as a result of a fungal or different bacterial infection. If there is a complication in the condition then a surgery is suggested.

Mark Perry

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