Antibiotics for sinusitis in adults and children: names of drugs, how to use
The content of the article:
- The purpose of antibiotic therapy
-
Antibiotics for sinusitis and sinusitis in adults
- Penicillins
- Macrolides
- Fluoroquinolones
- Cephalosporins
- Topical antibiotics
- Application features
- Video
Sinusitis is a disease in which inflammation affects the lining of the paranasal sinuses. They are connected to the nasal cavity by narrow passages, and the violation of drainage and stagnation of secretions create favorable conditions for the development of pathogenic microorganisms.
In acute bacterial sinusitis, antibiotics are the most effective therapy.
The most common cause of sinusitis is viruses, bacteria or fungi. The disease often develops as a complication of colds, flu, scarlet fever, measles, rhinitis, or against the background of allergies or curvature of the nasal septum.
Depending on the localization of the inflammatory process, there are:
- sinusitis (inflammation of the maxillary sinuses);
- frontal sinusitis (inflammation of the frontal sinuses);
- ethmoiditis (inflammation of the ethmoid bone of the labyrinth);
- sphenoiditis (inflammation of the sphenoid sinus).
The disease can proceed in an acute form, and with improper or untimely treatment, it can become chronic. Sinusitis manifests itself in the form of pain that can be localized in the area of the affected sinus, forehead or bridge of the nose and intensify when the head is tilted or in the morning. There is also nasal congestion, serous discharge, impaired sense of smell. In some cases, the disease is accompanied by severe headaches and fever.
The purpose of antibiotic therapy
The main goal of therapy for acute sinusitis and during an exacerbation of a chronic disease is to eradicate the infection and restore the sterility of the sinus.
With frequent (more than twice a year) recurrent and chronic pathology, antibacterial drugs do not play a leading role for successful treatment. In these cases, a careful assessment of many additional factors is required (concomitant diseases, anatomy of the nasal cavity, etc.). Before prescribing antibiotics, it is especially important to conduct a microbiological examination of the contents of the sinuses.
Antibiotics for sinusitis and sinusitis in adults
Antibiotics are commonly used to treat acute sinusitis, as the mucus in the sinuses is a breeding ground for bacteria. Therapy is carried out at home, but with a severe form of the disease and a high risk of complications, the patient is hospitalized.
Antibiotics for sinusitis in adults can be given as tablets, drops, intramuscular or intravenous injections.
What is the best antibiotic? An otolaryngologist (ENT) can choose the optimal drug and determine the duration of treatment. In most cases, agents with a wide spectrum of action are prescribed. If necessary, a surgical puncture of the sinuses is performed, the material is taken for analysis and the causative agent of the disease is determined, after which it is replaced with an antibiotic to which the pathogenic microflora is sensitive.
Penicillins
The drugs from the penicillin group are considered the safest. They are used to treat sinusitis in children and adults. They can also be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Protected penicillins, in particular Amoxicillin, play a leading role in the therapy of sinusitis.
The most famous drugs from this group include: Amoxicillin, Augmentin, Amoxiclav, Hikontsil, Amoxil, Ampicillin. They are available in the form of tablets, capsules, injection solutions or powders for the preparation of a suspension.
Funds belonging to this group must be applied for at least 5 days. With streptococcal infection, the course can be increased to ten days.
Macrolides
Often antibiotics from the macrolide group are used to treat the disease in adults and children - Clarithromycin, Azithromycin, Sumamed, Macropen. They have a broad spectrum of activity and are active against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
For uncomplicated sinusitis, Azithromycin is taken in a course of 3 days
Most often, drugs in this group are produced in the form of tablets, capsules or powder for the preparation of a suspension. Macrolide treatment can last from 3 to 7 days. The most rapidly acting agents include Azithromycin and its analogues. With a mild form of the disease, they are used in a course of three days.
Fluoroquinolones
The drugs in this group include Gatifloxacin, Ofloxacin, Levofloxacin, and Ciprofloxacin. These are broad-spectrum antibiotics that are prescribed for the treatment of many infectious diseases, including diseases of the ENT organs.
Which generation of fluoroquinolones is most effective for sinusitis, the doctor determines individually
Gatifloxacin and Levofloxacin are classified as fluoroquinolones of the latest generation, their effectiveness is much higher than that of Ofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin, but it should be borne in mind that sometimes severe allergic reactions occur against the background of their use.
Cephalosporins
The group of cephalosporins includes drugs such as Ceftriaxone, Cefotaxime, Cefixime, Cefuroxime. Due to their low toxicity and high efficiency, these drugs occupy one of the first places in the frequency of clinical use among other antibacterial agents prescribed for the treatment of sinusitis.
Ceftriaxone for severe sinusitis is administered parenterally
There are four generations of these drugs. Most often, in the treatment of sinusitis, agents belonging to the third generation are used. In severe forms of the disease, they are prescribed in the form of intramuscular or intravenous injections.
It must be borne in mind that one active substance may be included in preparations with different names. They have the same mechanism of action, but their cost is usually significantly different.
Topical antibiotics
In some cases, it is advisable to use antibiotics in the form of drops or sprays in the nose. They act directly at the site of inflammation, quickly relieving symptoms and shortening the recovery period. Another important advantage is the minimal risk of side effects, since these funds do not have a systemic effect on the body.
As part of complex treatment, Isofra is often prescribed - an antibiotic for intranasal use
Topical antibacterial drugs include:
- Isofra;
- Framinazine;
- Polydex with phenylephrine.
Before using these products, you need to cleanse your sinuses. For this, salt solutions, antiseptics or decoctions of medicinal plants are used.
Application features
Before starting therapy, you should carefully read the instructions for use of the drugs. Most often, absolute or relative contraindications include:
- severe impairment of liver and kidney function;
- severe heart disease;
- I trimester of pregnancy and the period of breastfeeding;
- hypersensitivity to components.
Most antibiotics negatively affect the intestinal microflora, therefore, in complex treatment, they are combined with eubiotics - Linex, Laktovit, Khilak. Also, the doctor may additionally prescribe vasoconstrictor drops, antihistamines, antifungal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Can the disease be cured without antibacterial drugs? Sinusitis can be treated without antibiotics if it is caused by viruses, fungi, or an allergic reaction. Irrational use of such drugs can lead to the fact that the disease will begin to progress, and in the future bacteria will lose sensitivity to drugs of this group.
In some cases, during treatment, side effects of varying degrees of severity develop. After discontinuation of the drug, they usually disappear on their own.
Adequate antibiotic therapy for sinusitis has a quick positive effect. It is important not to interrupt the course on your own, even if the health condition has improved significantly, and the symptoms of the disease have disappeared. Otherwise, a relapse of the disease may occur, which is much more difficult to treat.
Video
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Anna Kozlova Medical journalist About the author
Education: Rostov State Medical University, specialty "General Medicine".
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