Many Cases of Sinusitis Could be from Fungi or Allergies

In a study of children diagnosed with acute sinusitis of ten or more days duration, some were given a placebo and others were given antibiotics (amoxicillin or Augmentin). Those given the placebo were as likely to get better as the children who were prescribed antibiotics. Symptoms improved within seven days in 81% of children in both the placebo group and the antibiotic group. Within 10 days in 87% of all children improved.

The study published in the journal Pediatrics (April 2001;107:619-625) also found that antibiotic therapy did no better than the placebo in preventing the recurrence of symptoms. The drug did not reduce absences from school or day care when compared to the placebo. Many cases of sinusitis are caused by viruses, against which antibiotics have no effect. Some researchers believe that many cases of sinusitis are fungal in nature.

This does not mean that antibiotics should never be used, only that they should be used “judiciously.” Bacterial infections will respond to antibiotics, so a doctor may prescribe antibiotics for some children with symptoms that will not go away on their own, researchers said.