Other Remedies For Symptom Relief
Staying hydrated can help thin mucus to ease congestion.
Drinking hot liquids such as tea and broth may help relieve your symptoms. Breathing in moist air may also help relieve the discomfort that comes with nasal congestion. Try breathing in steam from the shower, a bowl of hot water, or a mug of tea.
If your voice is hoarse, rest it by avoiding yelling, whispering, and singing.
Placing a warm compress over the inflamed area can help reduce pressure and provide relief.
damages the natural protective elements of your nose, mouth, throat, and respiratory system.
If you smoke, consider quitting. Ask a doctor if you need help or are interested in quitting. Quitting may help prevent future episodes of both acute and chronic sinusitis.
Wash your hands frequently, especially during cold and flu seasons, to keep your sinuses from becoming irritated or infected by viruses or bacteria on your hands.
Using a humidifier during the cooler, dryer months may also help prevent sinus infections.
Talk with a doctor to see if allergies are causing your sinusitis. If youre allergic to something that causes persistent sinus symptoms, you will likely need to treat your allergies to relieve your sinus infection.
You may need to seek an allergy specialist to determine the cause of the allergy. The specialist may suggest:
- avoiding the allergen
Keeping your allergies under control can help prevent repeated episodes of sinusitis.
When Do I Really Need Antibiotics For A Sinus Infection
When do I really need antibiotics for a sinus infection? is a question many patients have when suffering from bothersome sinus and allergy problems. While sinus infections can be quite painful, antibiotics often do not help in treating the condition.
Sinus infections affect approximately 37 million people in the U.S. each year and can be caused by:
- Viruses
- Nasal polyps or deviated septum causing nasal obstruction
- Irritants/pollutants
The majority of sinus infections are viral in nature, and antibiotics do not cure viral infections. Taking antibiotics for viral infections also will not:
- Keep you from being contagious to others
- Relieve symptoms or make you feel better
In order to distinguish a bacterial sinus infection from an infection caused by a virus or other contributing factor, your doctor will observe your symptoms and possibly conduct other tests, such as a CT scan or cultures.
Antibiotics are only effective on bacterial infections, and even in cases involving bacteria, the body can often cure itself of mild or moderate infections within a few days.
What Other Information Should I Know
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your bodys response to meropenem and vaborbactam injection.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
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Get Strep Throat Treatment Online
If you or your child are experiencing throat pain, painful swallowing, and other common strep throat symptoms, we have good news: you dont need to visit your doctors office for strep throat antibiotics.
Instead, you can schedule an online appointment with one of the trusted doctors at PlushCare. If your doctor thinks strep throat antibiotics are right for you, they can send an electronic prescription to your local pharmacy.
Book an appointment with a PlushCare doctor and get an antibiotic prescription today.
S To Break The Cycle Of Chronic Urinary Tract Infections
As a child, I had chronic urinary tract infections. I was treated with multiple antibiotics from the age of 5 until age 17. This chronic use of antibiotics impacted my skin and my digestive system. It may have even contributed to the breast cancer I got at age 30. Throughout my training in medical school and functional medicine, I learned the importance of avoiding antibiotics as much as possible. Recurrent use of antibiotics increases your risk of getting another infection and causes the bacteria to become resistant to the antibiotics. But all too often, many people get into the cycle of continual antibiotic use. Common infections that become chronic or frequent include ear infections, sinus infections, and urinary tract infections. In the past, I found chronic urinary tract infections a difficult problem for both myself and my patients. Now, I am excited when a woman comes to see me with chronic urinary tract infections, because I know that I can help her.
These are 5 important instructions I give my patients for preventing urinary tract infections:
To Your Health,
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How Long Should I Take Antibiotics
Your doctor will let you know. Typically, for an uncomplicated infection, you’ll take antibiotics for 2 to 3 days. Some people will need to take these medicines for up to 7 to 10 days.
For a complicated infection, you might need to take antibiotics for 14 days or more.
If you still have symptoms after completing antibiotics, a follow-up urine test can show whether the germs are gone. If you still have an infection, you’ll need to take antibiotics for a longer period of time.
If you get UTIs often, you may need a prolonged course of antibiotics. And if sex causes your UTIs, you’ll take a dose of the medicine right before you have sex. You can also take antibiotics whenever you get a new UTI if youâre having symptoms and a positive urine culture.
First Line Antibiotics For A Uti
- Ampicillin
- Nitrofurantoin
- Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
Notably absent from the list of antibiotics prescribed for the treatment of UTIs is Amoxicillin. While very popular and useful in treating numerous other bacterial infections, urinary tract infections are not amongst the infections Amoxicillin is used for.
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What Is A Sinus Infection
The sinuses are cavities in the head that are filled with air. These air-filled pockets are lined with a very thin layer of mucus that functions to collect particles from the air that are breathed in, such as dust, germs, or other particles.
Very small hair-like projections function to sweep the mucus, along with any particles trapped inside of the mucus. The germ- or dirt-filled mucus then slides down the back of the throat and into the stomach where stomach acid works to kill any germs.
When a sinus infection occurs, this natural process involving mucus flow is blocked.
What Are The Best Antibiotics For Sinus Infection Do Doctors Prescribe For You
There are many antibiotics that your doctor or physician may prescribe to help treat your sinus infection. Some of these may even be familiar to you.
These antibiotics are effective in treating sinus infection, however, these drugs do carry side effects. You should only be taken according to what your doctor or physician has prescribed. Always follow their instructions to achieve the best results.
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What Are Possible Side Effects Of Macrobid
Macrobid may cause serious side effects, including:
- skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness
- agitation, confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizures
- nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, clay-colored stools, jaundice or
- severe skin reaction — fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.
What Is Levaquin Used For
Theres a whole army of different bacteria out there, and Levaquin is effective against many of them, including E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus. In fact, levofloxacin and its close relatives are commonly called respiratory fluoroquinolones because of their efficacy against Streptococcus pneumoniae in particular.
Most frequently, levofloxacin treats:
- Skin infections
- Sinus infections
Occasionally, healthcare providers will also prescribe levofloxacin for intra-abdominal infections, post-exposure anthrax, certain types of plague, and infectious diarrhea caused by an E. coli infection. Plus, it has shown some effectiveness in treating certain sexually transmitted diseases, specifically chlamydia.
However, the risk of Levaquins serious side effects isnt worth it for minor conditions. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration stated, fluoroquinolones should be reserved for use in patientswho have no alternative treatment options.
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Which Antibiotic Will Work Best
Your doctor will take a urine sample to confirm that you have a UTI. Then the lab will grow the germs in a dish for a couple of days to find out which type of bacteria you have. This is called a culture. Itâll tell your doctor what type of germs caused your infection. Theyâll likely prescribe one of the following antibiotics to treat it before the culture comes back:
Which medication and dose you get depends on whether your infection is complicated or uncomplicated.
âUncomplicatedâ means your urinary tract is normal. âComplicatedâ means you have a disease or problem with your urinary tract. You could have a narrowing of your ureters, which are the tubes that carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder, a narrowing in the urethra which transports urine from the bladder out of the body, or, you might have a blockage like a kidney stone or an enlarged prostate . It’s also possible you have a urinary fistula or a bladder diverticulum.
To treat a complicated infection, your doctor might prescribe a higher dose of antibiotics. If your UTI is severe or the infection is in your kidneys, you might need to be treated in a hospital or doctor’s office with high-dose antibiotics you get through an IV.
Your doctor will also consider these factors when choosing an antibiotic:
- Are you over age 65?
- Are you allergic to any antibiotics?
- Have you had any side effects from antibiotics in the past?
Surgery Opens Your Sinuses
Though most cases of sinusitis are caused by infections or allergens, you may have a physical abnormality that requires surgical correction. For instance, your nasal passages may be narrowed by a deviated septum, which occurs when your nasal bone leans too much into one nostril, impeding the flow of air. You might also have polyps or other tissue that blocks your nostrils or your nasal drainage ducts.
Our specialists may recommend the following surgical interventions for sinusitis:
- Removal of nasal polyps or growths
- Clearing of blocked nasal passages
- Removal of foreign objects
You may also be a candidate for a nonsurgical procedure called balloon sinuplasty.
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What Oral Antibiotics Are Used To Treat An Uncomplicated Uti In Women
The following oral antibiotics are commonly used to treat most uncomplicated UTI infections :
Your doctor will choose your antibiotic based on your history, type of UTI, local resistance patterns, and cost considerations. First-line options are usually selected from nitrofurantoin, fosfomycin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Amoxicillin/clavulanate and certain cephalosporins, for example cefpodoxime, cefdinir, or cefaclor may be appropriate options when first-line options cannot be used.
Length of treatment for cystitis can range from a single, one-time dose, to a course of medication over 5 to 7 days. Kidney infections may require injectable treatment, hospitalization, as well as a longer course of antibiotic, depending upon severity of the infection.
Sometimes a UTI can be self-limiting in women, meaning that the body can fight the infection without antibiotics however, most uncomplicated UTI cases can be treated quickly with a short course of oral antibiotics. Never use an antibiotic that has been prescribed for someone else.
In men with symptoms that do not suggest a complicated UTI, treatment can be the same as women. In men with complicated UTIs and/or symptoms of prostatitis are not present, men can be treated for 7 days with a fluoroquinolone . Tailor therapy once urine cultures are available.
Natural Remedies For Sinus Infections
1. Top Foods & Beverages for Sinus Infections
2. Foods & Beverages to Avoid
3. Oil of Oregano
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Goodbye Sinus Infection Hello Yeast Infection
When my doctor prescribed antibiotics for my sinus infection, I ended up with a vaginal yeast infection. Antibiotics can change the delicate balance in your vagina by wiping out the good bacteria in the vagina that keep yeast growth in check. Without that good bacteria, yeast can multiply rapidly and cause an infection, with its many uncomfortable symptoms . It was my first yeast infection, so I called my doctor to make sure everything was ok. She reassured me vaginal yeast infections are very common, and treating them was as easy as going to my local pharmacy to pick up MONISTAT®.
Other Tips That Can Help In Managing Uti In Males
- Drink at least 7-8 glasses of water every day. This helps in passing the toxins along with the urine.
- Drink cranberry juice without adding any extra sugar. Fresh cranberry juice removes the bacteria from the lining of the tract. These harmful bacteria get out of the body through urine.
- Have probiotic products such as yogurt. Probiotics promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut which kill the infection-causing bacteria.
- Increase your consumption of vitamin C. Especially, citrus fruits are a rich source of vitamin C. Apart from citrus fruits, oranges, kiwi, and red peppers contain high amounts of vitamin C .
- Maintain proper hygiene of your genital area and follow good bathroom habits.
- Make sure that you do not hold the urge to pass urine for long as it increases the chances of UTI.
- You can also take the help of natural supplements of garlic and cranberry.
These are some simple yet effective tips that will allow you to get rid of UTI faster. Dont forget to discuss them once with your doctor, so that you receive the right treatment.
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Case & Commentary: Part 1
A healthy 53-year-old woman presented to her primary care physician with upper respiratory symptoms and possible sinusitis. She was prescribed Augmentin . Despite this therapy, her symptoms persisted. She was then prescribed azithromycin.
Upper respiratory tract infection symptoms are among the most common presenting complaints to primary care physicians, with 83.1 million visits occurring in 2002 , of which 3.1 million were ultimately ascribed to acute sinusitis in adults. Sinusitis occurs after or in conjunction with a viral URI. Inflammation of the respiratory epithelium lining the paranasal sinuses leads to obstruction of the sinus ostia and accumulation of mucus within the sinuses. The adjacent nasal mucosa is invariably inflamed as well. This process leads to the typical sinus symptoms of headache, nasal congestion and discharge, and facial pain or pressure, sometimes accompanied by sneezing, toothache, or fever.
Maxillary pain or tenderness in the face or teeth.
Mucopurulent nasal discharge.
Symptoms have lasted for 7 days or more.
Despite these guidelines, overtreatment of acute sinusitis with antibiotics is common. A 2007 study found that antibiotics were prescribed in 82.7% of outpatient visits due to acute sinusitis. Many of these prescriptions are unnecessary, as the vast majority of cases of sinusitis are viral in originespecially when symptoms have lasted for less than 1 week.
Are There Alternatives To Levaquin
Levaquin isnt the only fluoroquinolone antibiotic out there. In fact, there are a few other prescription drugs that can treat a similar spectrum of conditions. So, healthcare providers have multiple treatment options and ways to attack common bacterial infections. A few of the most frequently-used Levaquin alternatives include:
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Managing Side Effects Of Antibiotics
While there are some cases in which you may be prescribed antibiotics for a common cold, these medications aren’t harmless. There are many side effects of antibiotics. Some are common, and others can be severe and potentially deadly.
- Allergic reactions
- Vaginal itching or yeast infections
- Nausea and vomiting
In a dataset from 2013 and 2014, adverse drug reactions caused 4 out of every 1,000 emergency room visits each year. The most common reason for the visit among children was an adverse reaction to antibiotics.
If you or your child is experiencing side effects from a prescribed antibiotic, make sure to tell your healthcare provider to be certain its nothing to worry about. Theyll also let you know if you should continue taking it or stop.
If youre taking antibiotics, here are a few things you can do to help ward off some side effects of antibiotics:
- Take a probiotic and eat fermented foods like yogurt and kefir.
- Limit sun exposure.
- Take your antibiotic as prescribed .
- Make sure to store it correctly .
- Ensure your healthcare provider knows about all other drugs and supplements youre taking.