When should an antibiotic be taken?
Antibiotics should only be used for sinusitis under certain conditions. They are effective for bacterial inflammation, not for viral inflammation or against fungi. Therefore, antibiotics are not recommended for every sinusitis.
The medication and, if necessary, the antibiotic administration should be individually tailored to the cause of the sinusitis, the general condition, age and individual factors. For example, an antibiotic is indicated for a purulent, bacterial inflammation with fever. In addition, antibiotics can be useful in case of complications related to bacteria.
People with a weakened immune system can be helped by a targeted antibiotic therapy in the case of a bacterial sinusitis. Some concerning use first vegetable means, as for example Myrtol or Cineol. If these do not provide however a Linderung or it comes to an aggravation, should be thought together with a physician about an alternative and if necessary about an antibiotic.In addition, antibiotics are often used if there is no improvement or even an aggravation after five days of taking decongestants and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as diclofenac or ibuprofen.
If your own immune system does not manage to fight the bacteria, suitable antibiotics can be useful – but only if it is a bacterial inflammation. It is recommended to have an antibiogram before every antibiotic therapy. This is a laboratory test, in which one looks how sensitive or resistant the pathogen reacts to the antibiotic. Afterwards, a suitable antibiotic can be selected, taking into account the individual risk of side effects.
What should I do if the antibiotic does not work?
If an antibiotic does not help with sinusitis, one should consult a doctor again. It is important not to stop taking the antibiotics on your own or to try something else at random. This could lead to so-called antibiotic resistance and a worsening of the disease.
The causes and the diagnosis should be thoroughly checked by a doctor. If an allergy is suspected, an allergy history and an allergy test are advisable. An examination with an endoscope and a laboratory examination of the fluid can also provide information, including whether or not it is a bacterial inflammation.
If an X-ray or computer tomography has not yet been taken, these can be carried out before further measures are considered. These examination methods help to secure the diagnosis and to get an overview of the exact extent. If the diagnosis of a bacterial inflammation is confirmed, it may well be that the right antibiotic has not been selected, as the individual reaction to these preparations is individual.
Accordingly, a suitable change must be made. How this is implemented most sensibly should be discussed together with the doctor. With maxillary sinus inflammations, which resulted from an allergy, usually no antibiotics, but a temporary Kortisongabe help.
Fluticasone, may be advisable in some cases. If the fungus Aspergillus has caused the sinusitis, antibiotics cannot work either. Instead, an antifungal agent, a so-called antimyotic, is recommended
