Antibiotics Don't Always Help Sinus Infections

Question:  I’ve taken antibiotics according to my prescription, but I still seem to have a sinus infection.  Why?

Answer:  Several reasons for persistent sinus infections may include allergies, infection, using an inappropriate antibiotic, not following medication instructions, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and/or structural abnormalities of the sinuses.

A radiographic technique called a CT scan can determine the severity of a sinus infection, and sampling and culturing sinus content for bacteria or fungi can determine what's causing the infection.  A CT scan can also be useful in cases of fungal infections, and structural problems of the nose.  Fiberoptic rhinopharyngeoscopy, a procedure that gives doctors an inside view of the nasal passage, is another way of detecting structural problems. 

If you follow prescription instructions and a sinus infection still won’t go away, see your physician. For more information about sinus infections, call the National Jewish LUNG LINE at 1-800-222-LUNG (5864).

This information has been approved by Dr. Todd Kingdom (January 2005).