How to treat sinusitis
Sinusitis, sometimes referred to as a sinus infection, is an inflammation of the sinuses usually caused by a minor illness like a cold or the flu. It can be uncomfortable and may last longer than the illness that caused it. If it lasts for longer than four weeks, you may need extra treatment to help your body shake off the infection.
Below, we explain how sinusitis can be treated to help you feel better sooner.
How to treat a sinus infection
The first thing to remember about sinusitis is that it typically clears up on its own – in other words, treatment isn’t actually needed in many cases. For the majority of sinus infections, at-home self care measures are all that’s required to make you more comfortable while your body takes care of the infection.
Much of these self care measures apply to any minor illness. You should aim to:
- Avoid smoking
- Avoid allergens like pollen, dust or environmental pollutants
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Get lots of rest and avoid strenuous activity.
If pain or discomfort in your sinuses is preventing you from getting on with your day as normal, then over-the-counter painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen may help. A pharmacist can help to advise you if you’re not sure what the best option is.
Another thing you can do at home that might help is to gently clean your nose with a salt water solution. To do this, you should:
- Boil about a pint of water, then allow it to cool fully.
- Stir one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and one teaspoon of salt into the water.
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
- Stand over a sink and pour a small amount of the solution into your cupped palm.
- Gently sniff the water into one nostril at a time, remembering to breathe through your mouth. Allow the water you’ve used to pour back into the sink.
This shouldn’t be done by children, and should always be done with caution due to the choking risk. You can repeat the process up to three times a day as needed until your nose feels better. Always use a new solution each time.
If these measures don’t help with your symptoms, then pharmacy sinusitis treatments may help. A pharmacist can supply you with steroid nasal drops or sprays that help to reduce the swelling in your sinuses to lessen discomfort. Alternatively, antihistamines (anti-allergy medications) may help if your sinusitis has been brought on by allergies.
Does sinusitis require antibiotics?
In the majority of cases, sinusitis is triggered either by allergies or by a viral infection like the flu. Where this is the case, antibiotics are not recommended, as they have no effect on viruses or allergens.
However, in roughly 2% of sinusitis cases, the condition stems from a bacterial infection. Like other forms of sinusitis, bacterial sinusitis may clear up on its own without treatment, but if it doesn’t further treatment may be needed.
The first line of treatment is usually the nasal corticosteroid described above to reduce swelling in the sinuses. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, though, a pharmacist may offer you antibiotics under the Pharmacy First scheme. This allows pharmacists to provide prescription treatments for seven common conditions, including bacterial sinusitis.
Rarely, severe sinusitis or sinusitis that doesn’t respond to treatment can require surgery. This helps to widen the sinuses to relieve symptoms, though most cases are resolved by self care or medication before surgery is needed.
If you’re experiencing sinus pain that you think could be sinusitis, speak to your pharmacist about treatment options. They’ll be able to guide you on self care, recommend symptomatic treatments that may ease your discomfort and, if necessary, prescribe medication to help your body fight off the infection.
