Do antibiotics help sinusitis?We all know now not to ask our doctor for antibiotics when we get a cold or sore throat. We know that germs are becoming more resistant to antibiotics. Kids in school are dying from MRSA caught in locker rooms or during contact sports. But what about a sinus attack? Is that bad enough for antibiotics?
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) says no.
They studied patients 15 years old and up. They compared patients who took antibiotics and nasal steroids with those who did not and found no difference between the groups.
Williamson IG, Rumsby K, Benge S, et al. Antibiotics and topical nasal steroid for treatment of acute maxillary sinusitis. A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2007;298(21):2487-2496.
