SINUSITIS

By Trevor Shewfelt, Pharmacist at the Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy

We now have this and most other articles published in the Parkland Shopper on our Website. Please visit us at www.dcp.ca

The information in this article is intended as a helpful guide only. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional advice. If you have any questions about your medications and what is right for you see your doctor, pharmacist or other health care professional.

Is your nose stuffed up and does your head hurt? Are you having trouble breathing and sleeping? Do you feel tired and have trouble hearing? Have you ever felt like that? All of us have felt this way at one point or other and it is unpleasant and a lot of us (including myself) have gone to the doctor and demanded an antibiotic. Well, we may not be doing ourselves any favors.

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses around the nose (paranasal sinuses). The paranasal sinuses are paired holes or cavities in the bones of the face. The cavities are located in the forehead, the cheek bones, between the eyes and above the soft palate. Openings between the sinus cavities and the nose allow mucus and other fluids to drain into the nasal cavity. Since it is one continuous lining in the nose and sinuses, things that cause inflammation in the nose like viral infections and allergies often cause sinusitis. Bacterial sinusitis usually happens after something else has already caused inflammation in the nose.

So why should you care what has caused your nose and sinuses to get plugged? Because most cases of sinusitis are caused by viruses, and viruses aren’t killed by antibiotics. Only a small percentage sinusitis cases are caused by bacteria. Antibiotics only kill bacteria. Antibiotics don’t kill viruses. So for most cases of sinusitis, antibiotics won’t help because most cases of sinusitis are caused by viruses.

So what is wrong with getting an antibiotic anyway, just in case it is bacterial sinusitis? Well, there are two main reasons. As safe and good as most antibiotics are most of the time, all medications, including antibiotic can cause side effects. Do you want to risk a side effect from a medication that wasn’t going to help anyway? The second reason is antibiotic resistance. When we use antibiotics when we don’t need them, we increase the chance that when we do need them, they won’t work.

Okay, so what do I do about my stuffed up head? Start with saline nasal sprays, inhaling steam, and drinking lots of water. These may help the sinuses to drain. Take a pain killer like Tylenol for head and face pain. Oral decongestants like Sudafed and sinutab can be appropriate for some people. Check with your pharmacist if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart problems, or other medical conditions before using them. Nasal sprays like Dristan and Otrivin can be useful as well, but if they are used for more than 3-4 days in a row can cause more congestion than they solve. If allergies are the main cause of the sinusitis, ask your doctor if a nasal spray with a steroid in it is appropriate for you.


How can I tell if I really do need antibiotics? Well, only your doctor can tell for sure, but here are some symptoms of Bacterial Sinusitis:
- thick, colorful nasal discharge
- upper jaw, tooth or facial pain on one side only
- symptoms start to get better and then get worse again


As always if you have any questions or concerns about these or other products, ask your pharmacist.