best antibiotic for sinus infection

Best Antibiotic for Sinus Infection

Amoxicillin belongs to the penicillin group of antibiotics and is considered as one of the best antibiotics for sinus infection. Read the following article which provides information on some other effective antibiotics that help lower the symptoms of sinusitis. The information will help you select the best one...

A hollow 'air filled' cavity in the skull is known as sinus. Human beings have four pairs of sinus cavities which are located in the forehead, behind cheeks, between the eyes and deep behind the ethmoids. Sinuses get infected when a pathogenic organism such as virus, bacteria or a fungus thrives within a sinus and causes intermittent blockage of the sinus. Inflammation of the lining of the paranasal sinuses and nasal passages, headache, nasal blockage, fever and facial pain are some of the important symptoms of sinus infection. Doctors generally prescribe antibiotics for sinusitis. Antibiotics for Sinus Infections Like microbial infections, allergies and autoimmune responses can also cause sinus infections. Antibiotics are not prescribed if you have a viral infection. Only bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics. Depending upon the type of infection and severity of the symptoms, doctors prescribe antibiotics. Various types of antibiotics help kill bacteria and stop further multiplication of the bacteria. They help relieve sinus headache and nasal congestion. Narrow range antibiotics can kill specific types of bacteria, while broad range antibiotics work great for many types of bacterial species. Amoxicillin: Amoxicillin kills bacteria by destroying the cell walls of the bacteria. If you are allergic to amoxicillin, physicians might prescribe Penicillin or Macrolides. Moxifloxacin: Moxifloxacin has been newly added to the list of sinus antibiotics. New antibiotics are being discovered because certain bacteria have become resistant to some of the old antibiotics. Moxifloxacin is used to treat chronic or stubborn sinusitis. Cotrim: Many patients experience worsening of the situation when they take antibiotics belonging to the penicillin family. For such patients, Cotrim, is good. It contains the magic power of two antibiotics: trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole. Those who are allergic to these two components should avoid Cotrim. Bacteria need a certain amount of folic acid for survival. They produce it themselves and get it from external sources too. They lose their capacity of producing folic acid because of Cotrim and so they cannot survive. Cefuroxime: Cefuroxime or Ceftin is prescribed to treat severe sinusitis. In acute sinusitis, symptoms are severe, and usually require strong antibiotics like Ceftin. It is also recommended to patients who notice no improvement after taking amoxicillin. Ceftin kills the bacteria by destroying the cell walls of the bacteria. Azithromycin: Azithromycin (Zithromax) is a member of the macrolides family. It works great for bacterial sinusitis as well as infections of the respiratory tract. It is considered as the best antibiotic for sinus infection and bronchitis. It prevents bacterial growth and helps alleviate the symptoms. Azithromycin impairs the ability of the bacteria to produce protein which is required for their survival. As a result of this, the bacteria become weak. Once the bacteria are weak, the immune system manages the infection easily and effectively. Those who are allergic to Penicillin may take sulfamethoxazole (Gantanol), cefaclor (Ceclor), loracarbef (Lorabid), clarithromycin (Biaxin), trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra). Generally, patients need to take antibiotics for at least 10-14 days. But some patients may be asked to continue antibiotics for 14-21 days. Longer courses of antibiotics like Augmentin may be required to cure chronic sinus infections. The treatment involves use of broad range antibiotics, when the sinusitis symptoms do not fade away even after completion of narrow range antibiotic course. Cephalosporins and Fluoroquinolones are the best examples of commonly used broad range antibiotics for sinusitis. In case you have an allergy to these antibiotics, you may get rid of sinus infection without antibiotics. Inhaling steam, drinking apple cider vinegar diluted in water, using cold and hot compresses, etc., help lower the symptoms. Those who often suffer from sinusitis should try to strengthen the body's immune system so that chances of catching common cold or viral influenza are significantly lowered. Moreover, they should keep their sinuses clean. Daily saline nasal irrigation or sinus flushes can help prevent sinusitis. Overdose of antibiotics can lead to side effects like stomach upset, diarrhea, increased resistance to antibiotics, etc. It is difficult to quote only one antibiotic as the best antibiotic for sinus infection; because the effectiveness of a particular antibiotic may vary from person to person. While choosing the best antibiotic, the nature and severity of sinusitis has to be taken into consideration. You should always take antibiotics after consulting your physician and under medical supervision only. Once you take three-four tablets, you may feel relieved of all the problems; but you should complete the course of antibiotics as recommended by the physician. Following the instructions of the physician regarding the dosage is essential to prevent recurrence of sinusitis. Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.

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