Sinusitis has many causes and a variety of treatment options. However, for the purpose of diagnoses and treatment, the medical community divides sinusitis into two basic categories: acute and chronic.

Acute Sinusitis

Unlike a cold, or an allergy, acute bacterial sinusitis requires antibiotic treatment to cure the infection. About half of all bacterial sinus infections will disappear without antibiotics. Because the symptoms of sinusitis and a cold can be identical, it is common to assume that a sinus infection that is less than 5 to 7 days in duration is a viral infection and therefore does not require an antibiotic. However, if sinus symptoms do not improve after 5 to 7 days, it is more likely that the infection is caused by bacteria and will respond to an antibiotic.

Generally speaking, you should be able to detect clinical improvement within one or two days of starting an effective antibiotic. If you only start to feel well toward the 10th day of the antibiotic, the antibiotic is probably not contributing to improvement and the infection would have resolved on its own.

If your symptoms persist, your physician may prescribe a regiment of broad-spectrum antibiotics. The typical length of treatment for acute sinusitis is 10-14 days.

Chronic Sinusitis

Chronic sinusitis symptoms can be difficult to treat, in part because treatment may require the coordinated efforts of several specialists to treat all of the aspects of the disease. In general, however, treating chronic sinusitis is similar to treating acute sinusitis. If antibiotic treatment fails then allergy testing, desensitization, and/or surgery may be recommended as the most effective means for treating chronic sinusitis. Research studies suggest that the vast majority of people who undergo surgery have fewer symptoms and better a quality of life.

• To view medical treatment options for sinusitis and sinus-related disease, click here.


• To view surgical treatment options for sinusitis and sinus-related disease, click here.
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