Treating Sinusitis with Amoxicillin

Sinusitis is an inflammation that occurs in the air cavities in the skull, called sinuses. Usually, inflammation begins in a sphenoidal sinus, which is located between eyes. Sinusitis may be caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi. If sinusitis symptoms are neglected and not treated, sphenoidal sinus disorder, for example, can cause eye problems, ear infections and even meningitis — brain membranes inflammation.

Sinusitis Symptoms

The most common sinusitis symptoms are nasal stuffiness, yellow or green mucus in paranasal sinuses and in the back of the throat. Common sinusitis symptoms can be accompanied by eyes, nose, cheeks and forehead tenderness. Less common sinusitis symptoms are bad breath, sense of smell disorder, fever, sore throat and general fatigue. And of course, patients with sinusitis start coughing, especially at night.

Sinusitis is dangerous, first of all, because it can complicate by meningitis. Brain cavity is separated from frontal, sphenoidal and ethmoidal sinuses with a very thin bone. Infection can quite easily penetrate to fluids and tissues, surrounding the brain, through this bone. That means that theoretically viruses and bacteria that cause sinusitis constitute a danger to the whole body.

Sinusitis Treatment Options

Sinusitis treatment starts with non-prescription drugs application, which is sold as pills or nasal sprays. The latter provides more rapid sinusitis symptoms relief, but they can not be used longer than three days. After this period, they lose their effectiveness and after longer use may even cause nasal stuffiness reappearance.

Sinusitis treatment requires antihistamines, which prevent allergic sinusitis symptoms development. Antihistamines block histamine action due to which sinuses are quite quickly drained. However, antihistamines should only be taken for treating sinusitis caused by an allergy. It is important to read information about medicine carefully, as antihistamines can interact with other drugs, causing undesirable side effects. Moreover, usually, antihistamines cause drowsiness.

Another means of treating sinusitis is antiedematous medications. Usually, they contain pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine which reduce edema of vessels that line sinuses. Many antiedematous medications raise blood pressure, so people with high blood pressure or, for example, those with prostate problems, should avoid taking these medications or consult a doctor about dosage.

Treatment with Amoxicillin

One more widespread method to treat sinusitis is antibiotics. The most effective is Amoxicillin – a semisynthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic of penicillin group. Its pharmacological properties are similar to ampicillin but have better bioaccessibility after oral intake. Amoxicillin, like many other beta-lactam antibiotics, can be deteriorated with beta-lactamases, produced by some bacteria, so it is often prescribed in combination with clavulanic acid, which serves as such enzymes inhibitor.

Amoxicillin belongs to penicillins. These are organic compounds, based on 6-amino penicillanic acid, which is obtained from the mycelial fungus Penicillium chrysogenum.

Contraindications:

• hypersensitivity (including to other penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems);
• allergic diathesis;
• bronchial asthma;
• hay fever;
• infectious mononucleosis;
• lymphatic leukemia;
• gastrointestinal disease in anamnesis (especially colitis, caused by antibiotics);
• lactation period;
• pediatric and elderly age.

Should be taken with caution in pregnancy, nephatony, hemorrhage in anamnesis.

Traditional Remedies

Treating sinusitis with traditional remedies usually starts with nasal rinsing. For the procedure usually «Neti» kettle, plastic spray-bottle or rubber bag with thin tip. The solution for nasal rinsing is prepared as follows: a quarter tablespoon of salt is diluted in warm water. Then you need to bend over the sink and carefully pour contents of the container into one of naris. The liquid will provide temporary relief of symptoms.

Another way to treat sinusitis with traditional remedies is steam inhalation. Inhaling steam or hot shower will help to moisten sinus. You can inhale aroma vapors using eucalyptus, menthol, and aromatic herbal leaves. Some of these compounds may particularly smooth down nasal passage mucous coat.

Conducting sinusitis treatment at home with listed above methods you should not forget to constantly drink a lot of liquid. Ordinary drinking water will help to get rid of mucus and sputum in sinuses and throat. You should avoid caffeine and alcohol consumption – these are the main causes of water depletion effect.