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Old Antibiotic Still Best for Sinusitis

A sinus infection can make people feel awful. Besides the congestion, inflammation and pain there is a kind of spaciness that accompanies sinusitis. It makes it hard to think or do anything that requires concentration. That’s why people with sinusitis are anxious to overcome the infection and inflammation as quickly as possible.

For years, pediatric experts have recommended amoxicillin for sinusitis in children. That’s because this penicillin-like antibiotic is the drug of choice for the kind of infections that normally affect ears and sinuses. A new study shows that amoxicillin is being prescribed more frequently, in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidelines. But it also suggests that broad-spectrum antibiotics are still being prescribed far more often than is warranted. The investigators urge pediatricians to use antibiotics more judiciously and follow guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

[Pediatrics, online Dec. 27, 2010]

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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