Indy Standard

• The overuse of antibiotics prescribed for sinusitis can lead to health risks or the development of antibiotic resistance.
• Antibiotic resistance can increase risks for patients who develop infections after other medical procedures.
• Patients with chronic sinusitis have alternative treatment options, such as balloon sinuplasty.

Of adults in the U.S. who are diagnosed with acute sinusitis -- a sinus infection lasting less than four weeks -- about 90% are prescribed antibiotics, according to WebMD.

But some doctors don’t think antibiotics are necessarily the best solution. Dr. Anthony Sanders of the Indianapolis Sinus Center said people who suffer from chronic sinusitis and try to treat the infection with antibiotics could find that, over time, the antibiotics become less effective. He recommends that patients consider balloon sinuplasty as an alternative.

"Antibiotic resistance is becoming a more prevalent problem as more bacteria exposed to more antibiotics develop ways around being affected by the antibiotics,” Sanders told Indy Standard. “People who have chronic sinus infections and (are) treated with multiple antibiotics throughout the years can find antibiotics (are) less effective over time. Trying to fix or cure a problem, once and for all, makes sense from an antibiotic-resistance perspective, not to mention improved quality of life."

Chronic sinusitis is a sinus infection that lasts for more than 12 weeks. Symptoms of sinus infections can include nasal congestion, headaches, coughing, facial pain or discomfort, and nasal drainage, according to WebMD. 

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, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). The AHA says that overusing antibiotics could also be a risk factor in premature death. 

People who develop resistance to antibiotics can face increased risk if they experience infections related to other medical procedures, such as joint replacements, organ transplants and diabetes treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

An alternative treatment for chronic sinusitis sufferers is balloon sinuplasty, which is typically recommended after other treatments for their condition have been ineffective. Balloon sinuplasty is fairly straightforward, and reported complications are minimal. There’s no cutting involved and no removal of bones or tissue, according to Healthline. 

If you're interested in learning more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.