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