Many Cases of Sinusitis May Be Viral, Allergic, or Fungal — Not Bacterial
A study published in Pediatrics (April 2001; 107:619–625) examined children with acute sinusitis lasting ten or more days. Some children received a placebo, while others were treated with antibiotics such as amoxicillin or Augmentin.
The results were surprising:
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81% of children in both groups improved within seven days
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87% improved within ten days, regardless of whether they took antibiotics
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Antibiotics did not reduce recurrence, school absences, or overall symptom duration
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Placebo performed just as well as antibiotic therapy
Because many sinus infections are caused by viruses—and sometimes by fungal overgrowth or allergies—antibiotics often provide no additional benefit.
This doesn’t mean antibiotics have no role. Bacterial infections can and do respond to them. The researchers noted that antibiotics should be used judiciously, especially when symptoms do not resolve on their own or when a bacterial cause is strongly suspected.
