NE Dallas News

• 90% of acute sinusitis patients in the US are prescribed antibiotics.
• The overuse of antibiotics can lead to a multitude of health complications.
• If your sinusitis is at the point of needing excessive antibiotics, there are other treatment options available that can fix the problem permanently.

Patients oftentimes use antibiotics to treat their sinus issues, but it's crucial to keep in mind that misusing them could lead to antibiotic resistance. Dr. Monty Trimble of Dallas Breathe Free said overusing antibiotics can create a negative impact on normal bacteria and become ineffective.

"If you look at the data, if you take a round of antibiotics—let's say you take a 10-day course of amoxicillin—the normal bacteria that are in your body become more resistant to the antibiotic for up to a year. Another one, like quinolone ciproflaxacin, if you take more than one course of that in your lifetime, it permanently alters the flora within your GI system," Dr. Monty told NE Dallas News. "One thing I tell patients is that antibiotics, unfortunately, have a negative impact on normal bacteria. But most people will find that antibiotics, other than maybe being temporarily helpful, sometimes it's questionable whether or not they're helpful at all."

According to WebMD, approximately 90% of adults in the United States who receive a diagnosis of acute sinusitis, defined as a sinus infection lasting less than 4 weeks, are prescribed antibiotics. Chronic sinusitis, on the other hand, is characterized by a sinus infection lasting for more than 12 weeks. Symptoms commonly associated with sinus infections encompass nasal congestion, headaches, coughing, facial pain or discomfort, and nasal drainage.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has connected the excessive use of antibiotics to alterations in a patient's gut microbiota, potentially raising the likelihood of chronic ailments like cardiovascular disease and cancer. The report emphasizes that the overuse of antibiotics may also pose a potential hazard for premature mortality.

People who develop resistance to antibiotics can face increased risk if they experience infections related to other medical procedures such as joint replacements, organ transplants, and diabetes treatment, according to the CDC.

For patients on the verge of overusing antibiotics, there are minimally invasive treatment options that can be performed in an office setting, such as balloon sinus dilation. According to Nuffield Health, balloon sinus dilation is a safe and effective, minimally invasive procedure utilized by surgeons to address sinusitis. During the process, doctors insert a guide wire attached to a small balloon into the nostrils and guide it to the area of blockage, where it is gently inflated to open the sinuses. Patients typically experience a recovery time of one to two days.