What is the typical treatment for acute bacterial sinusitis?

Acute bacterial sinusitis is an infection that typically follows a viral upper respiratory infection and can be characterized by symptoms such as facial pain or pressure, nasal congestion, and purulent nasal discharge. The standard treatment for acute bacterial sinusitis involves the use of antibiotics, which target the bacteria responsible for the infection.

Antibiotics are chosen when symptoms persist for more than 10 days, worsen after initial improvement, or are severe from the onset. The goal of antibiotic treatment is to eradicate the infection and help alleviate symptoms.

Other treatment options such as decongestants, antihistamines, and nasal steroids may provide symptom relief but do not address the underlying bacterial infection. Decongestants can reduce nasal congestion, antihistamines might help in cases associated with allergies, and nasal steroids can decrease inflammation. However, these therapies do not have antimicrobial effects and are not considered definitive treatment for bacterial sinusitis. Thus, antibiotics are the primary intervention when a bacterial infection is confirmed or highly suspected in acute sinusitis cases.