Best Antibiotic for Sinus Infection

Hollow 'air filled' cavity in the skull is called 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. Sinus infections occur 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 sinus infections. To help you decide the best antibiotic for sinus infection, here is an overview of common antibiotics for sinus infection.

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. 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. Two types of antibiotics, narrow-range and broad-range antibiotics are used to treat sinus infections. Narrow range antibiotics can kill specific types of bacteria, while broad range antibiotics work great for many types of bacterial species.

Amoxicillin: Amoxicillin belongs to the penicillin group of antibiotics and is considered as the best antibiotic for sinus infection. 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 sinus infections.

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. 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 sinus infections. 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 or 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. Cephalosporin and Fluoroquinolone are the best examples of commonly used broad range antibiotics for sinusitis. In case you have an allergy to these antibiotics, you may refer to how to get rid of sinus infection without antibiotics for some alternatives. 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 help prevent sinus infection. 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. The information in this article provides the guidelines. 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 sinus infection.