Sinus Infection - Antibiotic Use - CDC

Sinus infections happen when fluid builds up in the air-filled pockets in the face (sinuses). This fluid buildup allows germs to grow. Skipdirectlytositecontent Skipdirectlytopageoptions SkipdirectlytoA-Zlink AntibioticPrescribingandUse SectionNavigation CDCHome Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate SinusInfection(Sinusitis)Español:Infeccióndelossenosparanasales(sinusitis) Minus RelatedPages Stuffynosethatjustisn’tgettingbetter?Youmighthaveasinusinfection,alsocalledsinusitis Antibioticsarenotneededformanysinusinfections,butyourdoctorcandecideifyouneedanantibiotic. Causes Sinusinfectionshappenwhenfluidbuildsupintheair-filledpocketsintheface(sinuses).Thisfluidbuildupallowsgermstogrow.Virusescausemostsinusinfections,butbacteriacancausesomesinusinfections. RiskFactors Severalfactorscanincreaseyourriskofgettingasinusinfection: Apreviouscold Seasonalallergies Smokingandexposuretosecondhandsmoke Structuralproblemswithinthesinuses.Forexample,growthsontheliningofthenoseorsinuses,knownasnasalpolyps. Aweakimmunesystemortakingdrugsthatweakentheimmunesystem Symptoms Commonsymptomsofsinusinfectionsinclude: Runnynose Stuffynose Facialpainorpressure Headache Mucusdrippingdownthethroat(post-nasaldrip) Sorethroat Cough Badbreath OnThisPage CausesRiskFactorsSymptomsWhentoSeekMedicalCareTreatmentHowtoFeelBetterOver-the-CounterMedicineandChildrenPrevention SinusInfectionWhenyouhaveasinusinfection,oneormoreofyoursinusesbecomesinflamed.Fluidbuildsup,whichcancausecongestionandrunnynose. resizeiconViewLarger Close downloadiconDownloadImage[JPG] babyiconTalktoahealthcareprofessionalrightawayifyourchildisunder3monthsoldwithafeverof100.4°F(38°C)orhigher. WhentoSeekMedicalCare Seeadoctorifyouhave: Severesymptoms,suchassevereheadacheorfacialpain. Symptomsthatgetworseafterimproving. Symptomslastingmorethan10dayswithoutgettingbetter. Feverlongerthan3-4days. Youshouldalsoseekmedicalcareifyouhavehadmultiplesinusinfectionsinthepastyear. Thislistisnotall-inclusive.Pleaseseeadoctorforanysymptomthatissevereorconcerning. Otherconditionscancausesymptomssimilartoasinusinfection,including: Seasonalallergies Colds Treatment Yourdoctorwilldetermineifyouhaveasinusinfectionbyaskingaboutsymptomsandexaminingyou. Antibioticsarenotneededformanysinusinfections.Mostsinusinfectionsusuallygetbetterontheirownwithoutantibiotics.Whenantibioticsaren’tneeded,theywon’thelpyou,andtheirsideeffectscouldstillcauseharm.Sideeffectscanrangefrommildreactions,likearash,tomoreserioushealthproblems.Theseproblemscanincludesevereallergicreactions,antibiotic-resistantinfectionsandC.diff infection.C.diffcausesdiarrheathatcanleadtoseverecolondamageanddeath. However,insomecases,youmayneedantibiotics.Talktoyourdoctoraboutthebesttreatmentforyourillness. Forsomesinusinfections,yourdoctormightrecommendwatchfulwaitingordelayedantibioticprescribing. Watchfulwaiting:Yourdoctormaysuggestwatchingandwaitingfor2-3daystoseeifyouneedantibiotics.Thisgivestheimmunesystemtimetofightofftheinfection.Ifyoursymptomsdon’timprove,thedoctormayprescribeanantibiotic. Delayedprescribing:Yourdoctormayprescribeanantibioticbutsuggestthatyouwait2–3daysbeforefillingtheprescription.Youmayrecoveronyourownandmaynotneedtheantibiotic. Whatantibioticstreatandwon’ttreatimageicon Transcripttxticon[TXT–294B] HowtoFeelBetter Belowaresomewaystohelprelievesinuspainandpressure: Putawarmcompressoverthenoseandforeheadtohelprelievesinuspressure. Useadecongestantorsalinenasalspray. Breatheinsteamfromabowlofhotwaterorshower. Askyourdoctororpharmacistaboutover-the-countermedicinesthatcanhelpyoufeelbetter.Alwaysuseover-the-countermedicinesasdirected. TopofPage VisitSinusRinsingforHealthorReligiousPracticeforinformationonhowtosafelyuseasinusrinse. Over-the-CounterMedicineandChildren Carefullyreadandfollowinstructionsonover-the-countermedicineproductlabelsbeforegivingmedicinestochildren.Someover-the-countermedicinesarenotrecommendedforchildrenofcertainages. Painrelievers: Childrenyoungerthan6months:onlygiveacetaminophen. Children6monthsorolder:itisOKtogiveacetaminophenoribuprofen. NevergiveaspirintochildrenbecauseitcancauseReye’ssyndrome.Reye’ssyndromeisaveryserious,butrareillnessthatcanharmtheliverandbrain. Coughandcoldmedicines: Childrenyoungerthan4yearsold:donotuseover-the-countercoughandcoldmedicinesinyoungchildrenunlessadoctorspecificallytellsyouto.Coughandcoldmedicinescanresultinseriousandsometimeslife-threateningsideeffectsinyoungchildren. Children4yearsorolder:discusswithyourchild’sdoctorifover-the-countercoughandcoldmedicinesaresafetogivetoyourchild. Askyourdoctororpharmacistabouttherightdosageofover-the-countermedicinesforyourchild’sageandsize.Also,tellyourchild’sdoctorandpharmacistaboutallprescriptionandover-the-countermedicinestheyaretaking. TopofPagePrevention Youcanhelppreventsinusinfectionsbydoingyourbesttostayhealthyandkeepothershealthy,including: Cleanyourhands. Receiverecommendedvaccines,suchasthefluvaccine andpneumococcalvaccine. Avoidclosecontactwithpeoplewhohavecoldsorotherupperrespiratoryinfections. Don’tsmokeandavoidsecondhandsmoke. Useacleanhumidifiertomoistentheairathome. 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