April 27, 2001 – New US research suggests that antibiotics are not effective in treating most acute sinusitis in children. However, antibiotics are recommended by medical authorities when symptoms last for more than 10 days.
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the nasal cavities. In children, its main symptoms are nasal obstruction, thick, greenish runny nose, persistent cough day and night, and headache. It is sometimes difficult to diagnose, as the symptoms can resemble those of a common cold. However, sinusitis is more serious than the common cold and can lead to complications (and even, but rarely, meningitis). We call “acute sinusitis” an episode which manifests itself severely but over a limited period of time (as opposed to chronic sinusitis, the symptoms of which are less severe but fairly recurrent). Acute sinusitis is one of the main ailments of children for whom antibiotics are prescribed routinely.
The research, published in the April issue of the scientific journal Pediatrics, was conducted among 161 American children aged 8 years, on average, diagnosed with acute sinusitis and whose symptoms lasted for a maximum of four weeks. For two weeks, half of the children received amoxicillin (penicillin family) and the other half received placebo. By day 14, about 80% of the children, both in one group and the other, showed comparable improvement.
Is that sinusitis can be caused by a virus Where bacteria and, according to the American College of Physicians, there are about 200 times more cases of sinusitis due to a viral factor. Antibiotics kill bacteria but are ineffective against viruses.
The authors of the research say that antimicrobial treatment is therefore of no help in the vast majority of cases of sinusitis. Concerned about the overabundance of antibiotics to which children are subjected, they suggest reviewing this practice. In conclusion, chief researcher Dr Jane Garbutt of Washington University School of Medicine recommends that doctors wait at least three weeks after symptoms start before prescribing antibiotics for children with sinusitis. acute.
HealthPassport.net
According to Associated Press, April 2, 2001