Does a sinus infection require antibiotics? Help =(?!
Question: I have been feeling sick for a little over a week. It started w/ a pain behind my right eye, and it now is a permanent headache on that side only. My whole right side of my face hurts, I can't chew on that side either...it hurts. There is a "popping" near my right eye that I can hear and feel, but my nose is not running. I took tylenol sinus and that made my head hurt worse?! Advil is helping. Hot showers feel good. I have a nasty taste in my mouth. (sorry) This leads me to think it is a sinus infection and it really, really hurts and is making me dizzy. Will a Dr. give me antibitoics...I have no fever. Don't want to waste a trip w/ a 6 mo old in tow if I wont get anything to help and it needs to run its course.
Also, I have a COLD SORE!! which I have never in my life had. Are the 2 related? I got abreva...is that all I can do?
I am so tired of being sick...I want summer...
Answers: I have been feeling sick for a little over a week. It started w/ a pain behind my right eye, and it now is a permanent headache on that side only. My whole right side of my face hurts, I can't chew on that side either...it hurts. There is a "popping" near my right eye that I can hear and feel, but my nose is not running. I took tylenol sinus and that made my head hurt worse?! Advil is helping. Hot showers feel good. I have a nasty taste in my mouth. (sorry) This leads me to think it is a sinus infection and it really, really hurts and is making me dizzy. Will a Dr. give me antibitoics...I have no fever. Don't want to waste a trip w/ a 6 mo old in tow if I wont get anything to help and it needs to run its course.
Also, I have a COLD SORE!! which I have never in my life had. Are the 2 related? I got abreva...is that all I can do?
I am so tired of being sick...I want summer...
Sinus infection, or sinusitis, is an inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages. A sinus infection can cause a headache or pressure in the eyes, nose, cheek area, or on one side of the head. A person with a sinus infection may also have a cough, a fever, bad breath, and nasal congestion with thick nasal secretions. Sinusitis is categorized as acute (sudden onset) or chronic (long term, the most common type).
Sinusitis is an inflammation, or swelling, of the tissue lining the sinuses. Normally, sinuses are filled with air, but when sinuses become blocked and filled with fluid, germs (bacteria, viruses and fungi) can grow and cause an infection.
Conditions that can cause sinus blockage include the common cold, allergic rhinitis (swelling of the lining of the nose), nasal polyps (small growths in the lining of the nose) or a deviated septum (a shift in the nasal cavity).
Antibiotics are still being widely overprescribed for sinusitis, though the majority of these illnesses are caused by viruses, new research shows.
Studies suggest that only about 3% to 5% of acute sinus infections are bacterial in nature, meaning that they respond to antibiotic treatment.
Using data derived from two national studies of prescription practices, researchers concluded that antibiotics were prescribed for slightly more than four out of five patients with acute sinusitis and two-thirds of patients with chronic sinusitis.
There are different types of sinusitis, including:
* Acute sinusitis: A sudden onset of cold-like symptoms such as runny nose, stuffy nose and facial pain that does not go away after 7-10 days. Acute sinusitis typically lasts 4 weeks or less.
* Subacute sinusitis: An inflammation lasting 4 to 8 weeks.
* Chronic sinusitis: A condition characterized by sinus inflammation symptoms lasting 8 weeks or longer.
* Recurrent sinusitis: Several attacks within a year.
* Nasal mucous membrane swelling as from a common cold
* Blockage of drainage ducts
* Structure differences that narrow the drainage ducts
* Conditions that result in an increased risk of infection such as immune deficiencies or taking medications that suppress the immune system.
In children, common environmental factors that contribute to sinusitis include allergies, illness from other children at day care or school, pacifiers, bottle drinking while lying on one's back, and smoke in the environment.
In adults, the contributing factors are most frequently infections and smoking.
The primary symptoms of acute sinusitis include:
* Facial pain/pressure
* Nasal stuffiness
* Nasal discharge
* Loss of smell
* Cough/congestion
Additional symptoms may include:
* Fever
* Bad breath
* Fatigue
* Dental pain
* Headaches
Acute sinusitis may be diagnosed when a person has two or more symptoms and/or the presence of thick, green or yellow nasal discharge.
Treatment for sinusitis depends on the severity.
* Acute sinusitis. If you have a simple sinus infection, your health care provider may recommend treatment with decongestants like Sudafed and steam inhalations alone. Use of nonprescription decongestant nasal drops or sprays may also be effective in controlling symptoms. However, these medicines should not be used beyond their recommended use, usually four to five days, or they may actually increase congestion.If antibiotics are administered, they are usually given for 10 to 14 days. With treatment, the symptoms usually disappear and antibiotics are no longer required.
* Chronic sinusitis. Warm moist air may alleviate sinus congestion. A vaporizer or inhaling steam from a pan of boiling water (removed from heat) may also help. Warm compresses are useful to relieve pain in the nose and sinuses. Saline nose drops are also safe for home use. Use of nonprescription decongestant nasal drops or sprays might be effective in controlling symptoms, however, they should not be used beyond their recommended use. Antibiotics may also be prescribed.
To reduce congestion, your doctor may prescribe nasal sprays (some may contain steroid sprays), nose drops or oral decongestant medicine. If you suffer from severe chronic sinusitis, oral steroids might be prescribed to reduce inflammation -- usually only when other medications have not worked. Antibiotics will be prescribed for any bacterial infection found in the sinuses (antibiotics are not effective against a viral infection). An antihistamine may be recommended for the treatment of allergies. Antifungal medicine may be prescribed for a fungal sinus infection. Immunoglobulin (antibodies) may be given if you have certain immune deficiencies..
Hope this helps and hope you feel better. I know having a sinus infection is no fun and most of the time when I get them the doctor tells me to take an over the counter sinus medication(Tylenol sinus works best for me). but it can't hurt to call your doctor and see what they say.
not to sound gross, but when you blow your nose is your mucous yellow? if it is there is infection going on. you need to have it checked out to prevent more infections. the hot showers are opening the sinuses and giving you relief.
The cold sore is most likely related. Most people have are exposed to the virus that causes these at some point, and many never get a cold sore because their immune system produces antibodies that suppress it. But when your immune system is busy fighting off something else (like a sinus infection), you may develop a cold sore.
As for you sinus infection, the only way to know if it is a virus or a bacterial infection is to go to the doctor. If it is a virus, you just have to let it run its course. But if it's a bacterial infection, antibiotics will be very helpful in getting rid of it faster. Also, if it's bacterial it can cause serious damage to your sinuses, or spread to you inner ear causing an ear infection (which is what happeed to me; I started getting it around Thanksgiving, and am just NOW getting over it!), or even worse, spread to your bones, which you could need surgery to fix! This isn't common, but it happens. Definitely go tot a doctor.
The only things that really helped me was when my Dr. told me about a sinus wash that will kill bacteria.
you need
distilled water
sea salt
liquid chlorophyll and colloidal silver from the health food store.
in a glass mix 1/4 cup water with a pinch of salt and heat to body temperature.
add 5 drops each silver and chlorophyll and mix.
using a large dropper (like one used for infant medication) drop 2 full droppersfull into one side of the nose while laying down.
Turn the head and let it drain out the other nostril. Be sure to have paper towels handy.
The silver kills the bacteria and there are several hundred kind that can live in the sinus cavities and anti biotics don't get rid of them all.
Do this twice a day for a week, mixing up the mixture fresh each time.
Then do it once a week for maintenance.
There is nothing in this that will hurt you, and it cured me.
I do not have to take claritin, or antibiotics anymore.
best wishes