| Doctors are unnecessarily prescribing
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| | these drugs. They want prompt relief from
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| antibiotics for sinus infections.
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| | the annoying symptoms of sinusitis. It's
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| According to the study published in the
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| | no wonder why doctors are giving in to
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| March issue of Archives of
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| | their demands.
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| Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, US,
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| | Although there are several tests to find
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| antibiotics were prescribed for 82 per
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| | out whether a sinus infection is caused
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| cent of acute sinus infections and nearly
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| | by bacteria, they are often expensive and
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| 70 per cent of chronic sinus infections.
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| | lengthy. The first test is an endoscopy,
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| This is a shocking finding as antibiotics
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| | which involves inserting a small
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| can only kill bacteria and most sinus
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| | tube-like instrument into the nose to
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| infections are caused by viruses,
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| | collect a sample of mucus from the sinus
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| allergies or hormonal changes.
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| | cavities. The second test is a nasal
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| The study, by Hadley J. Sharp and
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| | cytology, whereby a swab of mucus is
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| colleagues at the University of Nebraska
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| | taken from the lining of the nose to be
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| Medical Center, Omaha, US, used national
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| | examined. The third is taking an x-tray.
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| data from 1999 and 2002 to determine the
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| | It is often difficult for doctors to
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| drugs that were prescribed for sinus
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| | determine the cause of a sinus infection
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| infections by general practitioners,
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| | just from observation. Even specialist
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| outpatient and emergency departments. The
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| | doctors are not able to diagnose the
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| data came from 2 national surveys by the
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| | specific cause without carrying out any
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| National Center of Health Statistics and
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| | tests. The symptoms of sinus infections
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| was representative of the US population.
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| | are similar whether it's caused by
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| There are 2 types of sinus infections:
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| | bacteria, virus, allergy or other
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| acute and chronic. Acute sinusitis occurs
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| | factors.
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| for up to 4 weeks and is caused by
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| | On the prevalent use of antibiotics, the
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| infectious agents. Chronic sinusitis is
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| | researchers suggest that doctors could be
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| usually defined as an infection with
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| | treating secondary infections. Another
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| symptoms that are persistent for more
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| | possible explanation is doctors think
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| than 12 weeks. It can be caused by
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| | that antibiotics work when their patients
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| allergies, hormonal changes or facial
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| | get better taking them. However, many
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| anatomy.
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| | infections resolve with or without
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| There are currently no effective drugs
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| | treatment.
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| for chronic sinusitis. According to Dr.
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| | The researchers are concerned about the
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| Donald A. Leopold, chairman of the
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| | overuse of antibiotics giving rise to
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| department of otolaryngology at the
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| | drug resistance and virulence of
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| University of Nebraska Medical Center,
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| | infectious bacteria. Although the public
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| antibiotics are the best of a bad lot.
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| | are aware of the increasing antibiotic
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| Many patients would call up their doctors
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| | resistance, many sinusitis sufferers are
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| and demand for specific antibiotics that
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| | likely to continue demanding for
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| may give them relief. They are aware of
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| | antibiotics.
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