Why Antibiotics Don't Work for Sinus Infections

Why Antibiotics For Sinus Infections Don't Work!

There are two main reasons why antibiotics don't work for sinus infections or sinusitis. Antibiotics have been routinely given for acute sinus infections for many years. Originally doctors prescribed them for seven days. When patients came back and still had the sinus infection they doctors increase the prescription to ten days.

When that didn't work the patient would give up or they would start all over with another course of antibiotics or try a different antibiotic like erythromycin or amoxicillin for example. And there are adverse reactions and side effects to consider, for example, with amoxicillin such as an upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea.

In the meantime they may have developed a yeast infection from taking the antibiotic.

Many acute and chronic sinus infection patients have developed allergies to antibiotics over the years. They have tried different antibiotics and their doctors have switched or changed antibiotics after allergic reactions trying to find one that worked.

The unfortunate part of this is that the patient now has one or more allergies to antibiotics so they cannot be used in the future for life-threatening conditions, if needed.

The most common antibiotic that is used for sinus infections is amoxicillin. Amoxicillin is synthetic penicillin. Usually people who are allergic to penicillin can't take Amoxicillin. Erythromycin is another that has been used much in the past.

Even several years ago the U. S. Physicians Group issued a statement advising doctors not to prescribe antibiotics for sinus infections. Unfortunately recent research has shown that doctors prescribe a sinus medicine, medication or drug because they want to appease the patient and not just for sinus problems. This can be for many ailments and conditions with symptoms they have no immediate solution for.

If a sinus infection is not treated with antibiotics or other sinus medications most of the time the sinusitis would resolve on its own anyway within two to three weeks. In some cases of long antibiotic therapy when the problem did resolve it was credited to the antibiotic when the body did the healing.

Antibiotics don't heal by the way. It's the body that heals.

The truth is that most sinus infections are cause by a fungus, usually a common household mold called aspergillus. The aspergillus fungus is airborne and is just about everywhere in any household. There will be higher concentrations in bathrooms and any room that has a lot of moisture. Sometimes the mold in bathroom is obvious and sometimes it's not.

More than 90% of sinus infections are caused by this fungus or mold.

If you suffer from sinus infections you want to get rid of any mold in your house. Even small amounts in the bathroom around the bathtub or shower or inside the upper toilet bowl. Look around the window sills. Look around the bathroom and get rid of it fast. Be careful to make sure your mouth and nose are covered with a mask for protection.

Another reason antibiotics don't work for sinus infections is that the antibiotic cannot reach the four sets of sinus cavities. The sinus cavities are located in such a way that the antibiotics cannot move through the blood supply to reach them. So even if your sinus infection was bacterial in origin it would be hard for the antibiotic to get to it.

These are two of the reasons why antibiotics won't work for sinus infections. Another problem with taking antibiotics is the side effects, adverse reactions and other risks you have taking them or for any drug for that matter. Natural remedies and natural solutions are always the best sinus treatment and there are plenty that work for sinus infections, sinusitis, pain, pressure, ear pressure, headaches, blockage and other sinus problems.

copyright©2008 Helen Hecker All Rights Reserved. No permission is given to copy or reproduce this article in any way or in any form.