What Is A Sinus Infection Or Sinusitis
Inflammation of the air cavities within the passages of the nose is referred to as sinusitis. Sinusitis can be caused by infection , but also can be caused by allergy and chemical irritation of the sinuses. A sinus infection occurs when a virus, bacterium, or fungus grows within a sinus.
Sinusitis is one of the more common conditions that can afflict people throughout their lives. Sinusitis commonly occurs when environmental pollens irritate the nasal passages, such as with hay fever. Sinusitis can also result from irritants, such as chemicals or the use and/or abuse of over-the-counter nasal sprays, and illegal substances that may be snorted or inhaled through the nose. About 30 million adults have “sinusitis.” Colds differ from sinusitis and are only caused by viruses and last about seven to 10 days while sinusitis may have many different causes , and usually last longer with more pronounced and variable symptoms.
How Should This Medicine Be Used
Clindamycin comes as a capsule and a solution to take by mouth. It is usually taken three to four times a day. The length of your treatment depends on the type of infection you have and how well you respond to the medication. Take clindamycin at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take clindamycin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Shake the liquid well before each use to mix the medication evenly.
Take the capsules with a full glass of water so that the medication will not irritate your throat.
You should begin to feel better during the first few days of treatment with clindamycin. If your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse, call your doctor.
Take clindamycin until you finish the prescription, even if you feel better. If you stop taking clindamycin too soon or skip doses, your infection may not be completely treated and the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics.
What To Do For Chronic Sinusitis
If youre suffering from chronic sinusitis or you are getting frequent sinus infections you should see your doctor, says Dr. Sindwani.
Your doctor will swab your nose to collect mucus. Culturing it in a laboratory will reveal which type of bacteria is causing the infection so the right antibiotic can be prescribed.
Treat early sinus infection symptoms with rest, hydration and over-the-counter sprays and decongestants. But dont look for an antibiotic unless your illness extends beyond a week, he says. Then check in with your doctor for a prescription and let him or her know if your condition worsens.
Don’t Miss: Steroid Nasal Spray For Sinus Infection
When Are Antibiotics Prescribed For A Sinus Infection
Your doctor will consider antibiotic treatment if you do not see relief from these initial treatments. If you develop a fever, or tenderness and pain in your teeth, you may be experiencing symptoms of a bacterial sinus infection.
Not all antibiotics are effective for treatment of bacterial sinus infections, so your doctor will look at your medical history and current symptoms to determine the best antibiotic treatment.
What Home Remedies Help Soothe Sinus Infection Or Sinusitis Symptoms
Sinus infections caused by viruses can use home treatments such as pain and fever medications , decongestants, and mucolytics. In addition, some health care professionals suggest nasal irrigation or a sinus rinse solution to help relieve symptoms of sinus infections, even chronic sinusitis symptoms. This irrigation is accomplished with a “Neti-Pot” or a sinus rinse kit . The last reference of this article shows a video of a sinus rinse procedure. In 2012, the FDA issued a warning about the use of Neti-Pots. The FDA cautions people not to use untreated tap water for rinsing, as contaminated tap water rinses lead to two deaths.
Bacterial and fungal sinus infections usually require antibiotic or antifungal therapy so home treatments without them are often not successful. However, some authors suggest home treatments may reduce symptoms after medical therapy has begun some healthcare professionals recommend nasal irrigation after sinus surgery.
Recommended Reading: Will Amoxicillin Help With Sinus Infection
Vaporizer Vs Humidifier: Whats The Difference
Every so often, you will develop illnesses or those close to you will become ill. And often as happens to millions of people that illness will be become of trouble with your sinuses.Sinuses are small cavities within your skull that are covered on the inside by mucosa. Typically, they lie empty, but Read more
When Antibiotics Dont Work
Some patients suffer from recurring sinus infections. If your sinus infection does not improve within five to seven days after you finish the whole course of antibiotics, or if you experience another sinus infection within a few weeks, you may be referred to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist for treatment.
Don’t Miss: Ways To Ease Sinus Pain
Sinus Infection Treatment Timeline With Antibiotics
Our sinuses are hard to reach, so it can be two to three days before antibiotic treatment begins to take effect.
It is critical to continue the whole course of antibiotics, even if you start to feel better. If you dont finish the whole course, your body could begin to build a resistance to those antibiotics. This makes future treatment more difficult.
Sometimes, patients experience negative side effects while taking antibiotics. If you experience rash, hives or have difficulty breathing while taking antibiotics, call your doctor immediately. You may be experiencing an allergic reaction. In older adults, some types of antibiotics may cause inflammation in tendons.
In addition to clearing your sinuses of infection, antibiotics also work in other parts of your body, particularly the gut. This could cause diarrhea, so you may want to take a probiotic as well.
Sinus Infection In Kids: What Parents Should Know
- Sinusitis means infection and inflammation of the sinus cavities. The infections can be viral or bacterial and often follow colds or attacks of allergies.
- Nine out of every ten cases of sinusitis are caused by viruses and do NOT get better with antibiotics.
- Yellow or green mucus coming from the nose does NOT mean theres a bacterial infection. This commonly occurs with viruses as well. Sinus pressure/headaches also do not mean there is a bacterial infection.
Don’t Miss: Prescription Nasal Spray For Sinus Infection
How Much Should I Take
Youll likely be prescribed a seven-day course of clindamycin for a tooth infection. On each of those seven days, youll likely need to take a dose every six hours or so.
There may be one or two capsules in a dose. Be sure to carefully follow the instructions provided with your prescription.
You can take clindamycin either before or after eating. Some people experience throat irritation when taking clindamycin, but following the dose with a full glass of water can help you avoid this.
When The Sinus Wont Heal After Treatment
If your sinus doesnt heal after tooth extraction and antibiotic treatment, your dentist might give you these options:
- Resume antibiotics Your description is a sign of infection relapse. You might need to resume clindamycin or switch antibiotics. If your dentist prescribes antibiotics and symptoms improve but return when you finish the medication, an infection lingers, a bone fragment might be aggravating your sinus.
- Bone fragment treatment If a bone fragment is pushed into your sinus, it can cause infection. Your dentist can refer you to an ENT specialist for further examination, diagnosis, and treatment.
Don’t Miss: Whats The Difference Between Allergies And Sinus
Using The Right Water During Saline Rinses
When using saline nasal rinses, tap water should always be boiled and then allowed to cool to ensure cleanliness distilled water or premixed solutions could also be used instead of regular tap water.
Other home remedies for sinus infections include:
- Drinking fluids: Drinking lots of fluids helps loosen and thin mucus. Avoid beverages that are caffeinated and alcoholic beverages that can dehydrate the body, which could thicken mucus.
- Breathing steam: Warm water is best . You can breathe in steam from either a bowl or shower.
- Humidifying the air: Use a cool air vaporizer or humidifier,particularly at night while sleeping.
- Avoiding environmental substances: Avoid tobacco smoke and chlorinated water that can dry up the mucus membranes and exacerbate symptoms.
- Implementing treatment measures: At the first sign of infection, use antihistamines and employ regular nasal rinses.
Cant Get Rid Of A Sinus Infection After Tooth Extraction
My dentist extracted an old root canal tooth because after two root canals from an endodontist, three years apart, the tooth was still painful. After my dentist removed the tooth, he said that an infection in the roots spread into my sinus. He cleaned the sockets, bone grafted the holes, and stitched it. After taking 150mg of clindamyacin for ten days, I still have the infection. Its been a week since I finished the medication, but my sinus is draining, and I feel pressure in my face and gum. Decongestant doesnt work. I have been thinking about scheduling an emergency appointment with another dentist just to get a second opinion, but I decided to find a dentist online to ask. Thats why I am writing your office.
Do I need more clindamyacin or a different antibiotic? Or is what I am experiencing part of the healing process?
Thanks for your help. Leidi
Leidi,
Thank you for your clear explanation. Although Dr. Finley would need to examine your tooth and x-rays for an accurate diagnosis, we can provide some insight on what might be happening. An urgent visit with a dentist that you dont know may do more harm than good. A conscientious dentist will review your dental history and exams and even consider referring you to a specialist.
Don’t Miss: How Long A Sinus Infection Last
Sinus Infection In Kids Your Child And Sinusitis
Inflammation of the maxillary sinus is very common childhood disease. So it is critical to know how to cure sinus infection in kids. But initially, it is necessary to identify the origin of the disease since different causes require different treatment. Sinus infection it is a disease resulting from inflammation of nasal mucous membrane and Read more
Upper Tooth Extraction And Sinus Infections
Upper molar tooth roots are close to the sinus. Sometimes only a thin membrane separates them. And that membrane can easily rupture during tooth extraction and result in sinus perforation.
If youre leaky filling hurts or is irritated, dont delay getting it replaced
Treatment Surgically close the perforation using sponge-like surgical gelatin or bone grafting material. Stitch over the opening. As a patient, you must be gentle with the surgical site and allow it to heal. Clindamycin or another antibiotic is appropriate.
Read Also: Sinus Pressure Points On Feet
Diagnosing A Sinus Infection
Since you cant tell if an infection is viral or bacterial just from looking at the symptoms, your surgeon will most likely run a few tests to diagnose the problem before recommending treatment. Diagnosing the infection can involve imaging to examine the sinuses and a mucus culture. Taking a sample of mucus from the nose or sinuses will help your surgeon determine if a bacteria is to blame and, if so, what type of bacteria is responsible. Knowing the type of bacteria thats causing your infection allows your surgeon to prescribe the type of antibiotic that would be most effective in treating it.
Are There Any Potential Side Effects
Gastrointestinal upset in both dogs and cats has been reported, including vomiting, diarrhea, and occasionally bloody diarrhea in dogs.
Cats may experience drooling and lip smacking after giving the medication.
It is important to never dry pill a cat if using capsules or tablets as esophagitis can occur.
If your pet appears to have trouble swallowing or eating, or has bloody diarrhea, contact your veterinarian immediately.
This short-acting medication should stop working within 24 hours, although effects can be longer in pets with liver or kidney disease.
Don’t Miss: How Much Does Sinus Surgery Cost
What Decongestants And Nasal Sprays Soothe Or Cure Sinus Infections Or Sinusitis
Taking decongestants and mucolytics orally may be helpful in assisting drainage of sinus infection.
The treatment of chronic forms of sinus infection requires longer courses of medications, such as Augmentin, and may require a sinus drainage procedure. This drainage typically requires a surgical operation to open the blocked sinus under general anesthesia. In general, antihistamines should be avoided unless it is felt that the sinusitis sinus infection is due to allergies, such as from pollens, dander, or other environmental causes.
It is likely that the use of a topical nasal steroid spray will help reduce swelling in the allergic individual without the drying that is caused by using antihistamines although both are occasionally used. Oral steroids may be prescribed to reduce acute inflammation and to help with chronic inflammation in cases with or without polyps and in allergic fungal sinusitis.
In many people, allergic sinusitis develops first, and later, bacterial infection occurs. For these individuals, early treatment of allergic sinusitis may prevent the development of secondary bacterial sinusitis.
In rare instances or in natural disasters, fungal infections may develop in debilitated people. Death rates of 50%-85% have been reported for patients with these sinus infections. Treatment relies on early diagnosis followed by immediate surgical debridement, antifungal drugs, , and stabilizing any underlying health problem such as diabetes.
Common Antibiotics For Sinus Infections
Antibiotics may be prescribed when symptoms of a sinus infection warrant such treatment. Common antibiotics for sinus infection include:
- Zithromax
- Levaquin : Although this drug is often prescribed as a first line of therapy for sinusitis, it has serious side effects and should only be used as a last resort.
Also Check: What Is The Best Nighttime Sinus Medicine
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.
Why Is This Medication Prescribed
Clindamycin is used to treat certain types of bacterial infections, including infections of the lungs, skin, blood, female reproductive organs, and internal organs. Clindamycin is in a class of medications called lincomycin antibiotics. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of bacteria.
Antibiotics such as clindamycin will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.
You May Like: If Sinus Infection Is Left Untreated
What Is Clindamycin Used For In Dogs
It is effective in the treatment of infections stemming from wounds, skin infections, bacterial pneumonia , bone infections , ear and tooth infections, as well as respiratory tract infections. It is also prescribed in cases of bladder or urinary tract infections , but only if the culture shows that the bacteria are sensitive to this antibiotic. It can also effectively treat protozoal infections like toxoplasma. The medication works best on anaerobic bacteria, i.e. bacterium that does not need oxygen to survive .
What Is The Treatment For Chronic Sinus Infection
When it comes to treating chronic sinusitis, theres no one-size-fits-all solution. While several treatment options are available, what works for one person may not be appropriate for the other. Hence, we tailor the treatment to each individuals needs, symptoms, and whether or not other conditions are also at play.
The goals of treating chronic sinusitis are to address the allergic causes, minimize inflammation, promote free sinus drainage, and eradicate the infection .
Here are a few potential treatment options for chronic sinusitis. We will likely try out a combination of two or more of these options to see what works best for you.
Don’t Miss: How Does A Doctor Diagnose A Sinus Infection
What Is Clindamycin
Clindamycin is used primarily to treat infections caused by susceptible anaerobic bacteria. Such infections might include respiratory infections, septicemia and peritonitis. In patients with hypersensitivity to penicillins, clindamycin may be used to treat susceptible aerobic infections as well.
Additionally, topical application of clindamycin phosphate can be used to treat severe acne due to its bacteriostatic effect. Clindamycin interferes with bacterial protein synthesis, in a similar way as erythromycin and chloramphenicol, by binding to the 50S subunit of the bacterial ribosome.
Clindamycin is also used to treat bone-infections caused by staphylococcus aureus.
This medication is marketed under various trade names including Dalacin® , Cleocin® and Evoclin® in a foam delivery system.
What Is A Z
A Z-Pak is the brand name for a five-day course of the antibiotic azithromycin that treats bacterial infections by stopping the growth of bacteria in your body. Its used for a variety of infections including pneumonia, sinus infections, and ear infections, for example, explains Amesh Adalja, MD, a board-certified infectious disease physician.
This prescription drug is manufactured by BOC Sciences, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Sandoz, Alembic, and Pfizer, among other large pharmaceutical companies. Common brands of azithromycin include the Zithromax Z-Pak and the Zithromax TRI-PAK. Azithromycin is also available as an eye drop, called AzaSite.
Generic azithromycin can cost approximately $37 without insurance, while brand-name Zithromax can cost upwards of $200. However, a SingleCare coupon can reduce that cost to less than $10 for a generic Z-Pak.
Also Check: Why Does My Sinus Smell Bad
When Do You Really Need Antibiotics For That Sinus Infection
- By Monique Tello, MD, MPH, Contributor
It was February, and clinic was teeming with respiratory infections of all kinds: mostly the common cold, but also bronchitis, pneumonia, and sinus infections. The patients were coming in usually thinking that they needed antibiotics for their sinus infection, or another respiratory infection.The first patient on my schedule was a healthcare provider with sinus infection written down as her main issue.* Shed had about two weeks of nasal and sinus congestion which she blamed on a viral upper respiratory infection . Her two young kids had been sick with colds all winter, so she wasnt surprised to have these symptoms, along with endless postnasal drip and a cough.
Her congestion had improved a bit at one point, and she thought that she was finally getting better. But then, the day before her appointment, she awoke with throbbing pain between her eyes, completely blocked nasal passages, and, more concerning to her, green pus oozing from her left tear duct. She had body aches, chills, and extreme fatigue.