More than 37 million Americans suffer from at least one episode of acute sinusitis each year. The prevalence of sinusitis has soared in the last decade due to increased pollution, urban sprawl, and increased resistance to antibiotics. A. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the membrane lining of any sinus, especially one of the paranasal sinuses. Either medication or surgery is a possible treatment.
Acute sinusitis can last four weeks or more.
Acute bacterial infection might be present when symptoms worsen after five days, persist after ten days, or the severity of symptoms is out of proportion to those normally associated with a viral infection. A. Acute sinusitis is generally treated with 10 to 14 days of antibiotic care. With treatment, the symptoms disappear and antibiotics are no longer required for that episode. Oral and topical decongestants also may be prescribed to alleviate the symptoms. They may also have headache, bad breath, and fatigue.