My Sinusitis Infection Is Not Responding to Antibiotics

What To Do If Antibiotics Do Not Work for a Sinus Infection

According to CNN, many cases of sinusitis (sinus infections) don’t respond well or at all to traditional antibiotics.

The reason your sinus infection won’t go away with antibiotics is because sinusitis is typically a viral infection. Antibiotics do not work on viruses, they are only able to heal bacterial or fungal infections. Unfortunately, there is not yet any reliable medical test to distinguish which type of sinusitis you have.

If you suffer from chronic sinus infections and the antibiotics are not working to clear up your sinusitis, there are other treatment options to help get relief.

On This Page: Should I Have Surgery to Treat My Chronic Sinusitis? , Contact Boise ENT About Sinus Infection Treatment Options, Sinus Surgery Testimonial

Treating Sinusitis After Antibiotics Don’t Work

In most cases, acute sinusitis tends to resolve on its own within 14 days – whether antibiotics are taken or not. And there are many over the counter medications you can take that can help to reduce the symptoms of acute sinusitis and provide you with some relief.

Cases of sinusitis that do not resolve are likely chronic rather than acute. Time magazine also reports that chronic sinusitis has been linked to underlying structural issues of the nasal passages, including an undetected deviated septum, too-narrow sinus passages or excess sinus tissue.

The good news is, a full 76% of patients that get treated with sinus surgery for these types of structural issues state they are very pleased with the results. And a full 100% of surgical sinusitis patients state some relief from chronic sinusitis.

Should I Have Surgery to Treat My Chronic Sinusitis? 

“You need surgery.” For most of us, this is not a reassuring statement to hear.

However, when you have been struggling with chronic sinusitis symptoms that don’t seem to be responding to antibiotics or anything else you try, hearing “you need surgery” can actually be a relief!

If your ENT doctor, who is a specialist in complex sinus issues related to the respiratory system, recommends surgery to reduce or eliminate chronic sinusitis, it is a recommendation worth taking seriously.

What Sinusitis Surgery Options Exist?

WebMD states that sinusitis surgery may be recommended for infected or swollen sinus tissue, to remove growths or polyps in the sinus cavities, to widen the sinus passages, to repair tissue damage or to enable sinuses to drain properly (deviated septum).

There are two main types of surgery: endoscopic and traditional. Endoscopic is generally preferable if the sinus issue permits it, and can often be done outpatient. However, traditional surgery may be required for deeper or more complex issues.

Everyday Health states that, while recovery may take a few months, fully 90% of sinusitis surgeries are a great success.

When To See an ENT About Your Chronic Sinusitis After Antibiotic Treatments Don’t Work

What does an ENT do for chronic sinusitis? If you have tried antibiotics to treat your sinusitis, and they haven’t worked, it’s time to contact an ENT. If your sinus infection has lingered even after antibiotics, we can help. We serve the Southwest Boise area and accept patients from all states. If you are ready to treat your chronic sinusitis successfully, contact us at (208)-229-2368.

Sinus Surgery Patient Testimonial