All Stuffed Up:
Treatment Options for Sinus Infection

Ask your doctor before pursing treatment for a possible sinus infection. Your doctor can rule out other causes, such as colds or allergies. Following are some common treatment options for sinus infections:

• Salt water rinses
  You might try rinsing your sinuses with salt water spray. A simple way to flush is get an over-the-counter product, such as Oceanmist, or make your own salt solution.
  
  
• Nasal steroids
  This is very similar to putting steroid cream on a rash. 
  
  
• Antihistamines or decongestants
  These help to curb infection by drying up the mucous on which bacteria thrive. The downside is that these tend to be temporary solutions, and some products may have unpleasant side effects.
  
  
• Antibiotics
  While the infections may go away by draining the sinuses, generally they require antibiotics to control the bacteria. If there is definite evidence of a bacterial infection then antibiotic use is justified. The following antibiotics seem to help the most: Augmentin, Zithromax (Z-pak), any one of a group of medications including (Levaquin, Trovan, or Raxxar). Do not use these if you are under the age of 18. 

Find out more:

• Take the Quiz: Do you have a sinus infection?
• How to tell if it's a cold or the flu

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