I have a sinus infection, but my doctor said it would clear up on its own and declined to give me a prescription for an antibiotic. Should I see another doctor to get one? Is there anything else I can do to deal with the problem?
I wouldn’t seek a prescription for an antibiotic from another doctor for a sinus infection or sinusitis. Research has shown that about 85 percent of sinus infections in adults do clear up on their own within seven to 15 days. Nevertheless, it’s estimated that antibiotics are prescribed for up to 91 percent of patients with sinus infections despite the fact that the vast majority are viral in nature and won’t respond to those medications. Unnecessary use of antibiotics is the leading cause of antibiotic resistance and the emergence of dangerous superbugs.
