Pinellas Times

• Antibiotics are commonly prescribed for sinusitis.
• Doctors warn that overuse of antibiotics can lead to the development of "antibiotic resistance," which can cause serious health complications.
• Patients looking for a long-term solution have treatment options such as balloon sinuplasty.

Many sinusitis patients are prescribed antibiotics, but Dr. Mariah Pate of Tampa Bay Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Pinellas Times that there are many risks involved in relying on antibiotics, including becoming immune.

"Antibiotic resistance is becoming a huge issue," Pate said. "We have many different antibiotics that are really helpful for the treatment of sinusitis and other bacterial infections. But over the years with overuse, we are seeing more and more antibiotic resistance. There are some bacteria out there now that we really can't treat with anything, and that's incredibly scary. We are so privileged to have such great medicine."

Pate discussed the pros and cons of antibiotics and how best to utilize them.

"But if you think back to before antibiotics were around, people were dying of infections left and right because they couldn't be treated," Pate said. "So our job as clinicians is to be as judicious as possible with antibiotics, because the more we use them, the more resistant they'll be and the more likely we are to have an issue where antibiotics won't work anymore. That's the reason it's important to treat these chronic conditions in other ways other than with antibiotics."

According to WebMD, acute sinusitis is a sinus infection that lasts less than four weeks. Ninety percent of American adults who are diagnosed with acute sinusitis are prescribed antibiotics. Chronic sinusitis is a sinus infection that lasts for more than 12 weeks. Related symptoms include nasal congestion, headaches, coughing, facial pain or discomfort and nasal drainage.

The American Heart Association reports that the overuse of antibiotics has been linked to changes in the patient's gut microbiota, which can increase the risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, and it can also be a risk factor for premature death.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who develop resistance to antibiotics can face an increased risk for experiencing infections related to other medical procedures, such as joint replacements, organ transplants and diabetes treatment.

Chronic sinusitis patients have alternative treatment options available, such as balloon sinuplasty.

Healthline reported that balloon sinuplasty is most often recommended for patients with chronic sinusitis after other treatments have been ineffective. The procedure doesn't involve any cutting or removal of bone or tissue. It is fairly straightforward, and reported complications are minimal. Following a balloon sinuplasty, many patients are able to return to their regular activities within one or two days. Some patients are even able to drive themselves home following the procedure.

To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.