Do you know why antibiotics are prescribed to treat sinus infections in many cases? The reason is that in the majority of cases bacteria are the cause of sinusitis. And antibiotics are medications that have antibacterial characteristics. In short, these medications kill the bacteria and prevent them from returning.

If you are suffering from sinusitis, it’s recommended for you to consult with your doctor as soon as possible to determine the cause of infection. If bacteria are the cause of infection, then doctors generally prescribe antibiotics. But if the infection is viral or fungal in nature, then antibiotics won’t be effective.

There are different classes of antibiotics that are used in sinus infections treatment. Each of them is used for a specific type of infection caused by bacteria. Among the most popular classes of antibiotics that are prescribed these days are the following:

Penicillins kill the bacteria by preventing the cell from building walls. Amoxicillin is the most commonly prescribed antibiotic.

Cephalosporins break bacteria’s cell wall synthesis as well. Typically, it is prescribed to patients who have allergy to penicillin.

Macrolides prevent bacteria from formation of protein. Basically, they don’t kill the bacteria, but prevent them from growing.

Fluoroquinolones belong to the latest class of antibiotics; they break the DNA replication process of bacteria.

Probably, you have a question which medication to choose among the variety of antibiotics available these days. In fact, the choice depends on a number of factors among them are the following:

• Type and severity of the infection
• The speed of drug absorption in your blood circulation
• The speed of the elimination of the medication from your body
• Probability of severe side reactions
• The price of the medication

So it’s evident that the best antibiotic for your condition can be chosen by your doctor, because only medical professionals can make the right decision.