Colds cause many complications, one of which may be sinusitis. If left untreated on time, it becomes chronic. How to treat sinusitis? The treatment and medications used in therapy will be described below.
Why do you need paranasal sinuses?
What a human skull looks like, everyone knows from the pictures. But its structure is much more complicated than it might seem at first glance. For example, the fact that there are cavities in the facial bones of the skull called the maxillary sinuses, is known, perhaps, only to those who have encountered sinusitis. This disease causes a lot of trouble, as it disrupts the breathing process. What drugs for sinusitis will help to cope with the problem quickly and efficiently?
Symptoms of sinusitis
Diseases of the upper respiratory tract are a fairly common occurrence in both adults and children. A stuffy nose or runny nose is one of the symptoms of a health problem. Many, following the saying that if you do not treat a runny nose, then it will pass in 7 days, and if treated, then in a week, pay little attention to the quality of treatment for this problem, preferring to use vasoconstrictors that eliminate congestion and stop mucus secretion.
But this technique is not a treatment, but only works to eliminate the symptoms. Often the consequence of this attitude to the common cold is sinusitis. However, this inflammatory disease may have other causes. The main symptoms of the problem with the maxillary sinuses that line the mucous layer are:
- persistent nasal congestion;
- change of voice - it becomes hoarse, deaf;
- violation of smell and taste;
- headaches that can migrate to the upper jaw, forehead; they are amplified by tilting the head forward and to the side;
- swelling in the nose, forehead, cheeks.
Nasal discharge may not always be a sign of sinusitis, because in some cases the mucous membrane is so swollen that it blocks the secretions from the paranasal sinuses. But if there is a runny nose with sinusitis, then the excreted will have a green or yellow-green color. It is also possible to increase the temperature to 38 degrees, sleep disturbance, distraction, a feeling of tiredness and fatigue.
Comprehensive treatment will almost always include an antibiotic for sinusitis. For adults, the name of the drug (tablets or injections) will tell the attending physician. For children, this group of drugs should be prescribed taking into account the characteristics of the developing organism, which should be taken care of by a specialist who observes the child. Also in the group of medicines include antiseptic drugs, vasoconstrictor drugs. Antihistamines will be recommended for some patients. Effective with such a disease and means that cleanse the nasal passages of a pathogenic secret.
Azithromycin
There are a lot of medicines that help defeat pathogenic bacteria. Their spectrum is wide, many of them are used in the treatment of a wide range of diseases. Azithromycin is a popular antibiotic for sinusitis in adults. The doctor will tell you the names of the drugs with this active substance. Azithromycin belongs to the pharmacological group of macrolides and azalides. This medicinal component is able to fight against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, anaerobes, mycobacteria, ureoplasma. It has the effect of the first round, that is, passing through the liver for the first time, azithromycin and its metabolites retain their therapeutic activity. It easily enters all organs and tissues, as it has the ability to pass through histohematological barriers. A feature of azithromycin is that it concentrates more in the focus of infection than in other tissues. The most famous drugs with this active ingredient are Sumamed, Azitral, and Hemomycin. Generic "Azithromycin" is produced by many pharmaceutical companies, adding a brand name, for example, "Azithromycin-Akrikhin" to the name. What medicine and in what pharmaceutical form to choose, the doctor will advise.
Cephalosporins
Many drugs with sinusitis contain an antibiotic as an active component, because often it is pathogenic bacteria that cause the disease. Another of these substances used in otolaryngology is cephalosporin. Rather, under this name a whole group of four generations of cephalosporin antibiotics is combined. So, for example, cefuroxime axetil works in tablets or granules for the preparation of Zinnat suspension . This antibiotic belongs to the II generation of cephalosporins and works against aerobes and anaerobes gram-positive and gram-negative. The specialist prescribing such a medicine should remember that some bacteria are insensitive to this medicinal substance, and treatment will only harm, without bringing any benefits.
Preparations for sinusitis in adults and in children with cefditoren in the composition have a pronounced drug effect. This antibiotic is 3rd generation cephalosporin. The most popular medicine based on it is Spectratef, produced in the form of tablets of 200 or 400 mg. This drug inhibits the synthesis of bacterial cells, which causes their death. But, despite the effectiveness in the treatment of bacterial infections, it cannot help if pathogens are resistant to the active substance. Only the doctor should prescribe the medicine after examining the patient.
Combined antibiotics
According to many people who are far from medicine, only antibiotics will help to qualitatively treat sinusitis, and the most effective drugs should contain a complex of such substances. But do not forget that the treatment of bacterial, viral infections and their complications should be prescribed only by a specialist after an adequate diagnosis. The pharmaceutical industry launches on the pharmacy market a lot of combined drugs of the antibiotic group.
For example, Amoxiclav, in which two substances act as active ingredients - amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. Complementing each other, they carry out antibacterial treatment of sinusitis and sinusitis. Synonyms that a doctor can recommend are Flemoklav-Solyutab, Augmentin, Panklav. Such drugs are available in the form of capsules, which dissolve in the intestines, and in the form of a suspension, most often prescribed for children in accordance with age characteristics.
Disinfection
In order to treat inflammation, antibiotics are not always used. For example, some drugs for sinusitis of the nose belong to the pharmaceutical group of antiseptics and disinfectants. The most popular are Miramistin and Okomistin. These are liquid forms containing, as a working component, such a chemical compound as benzyldimethyl [3- (myristoylamino) propyl] ammonium chloride monohydrate. This substance has an antimicrobial effect, successfully combats those pathogens that are resistant to antibiotics. Medicines are released in the form of liquids. When performing a puncture of the maxillary sinuses, the medicine is used to rinse them. As a contraindication to therapy with this substance, only individual intolerance appears.
Silver protein
For many patients, the treatment of sinusitis becomes a fairly long stage. The most effective drugs help to solve this problem qualitatively, but not always in a short time. The neglected forms of this disease may require the use of special tools for lifelong cleansing of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity. One of the drugs that also belongs to the group of antiseptics is silver proteinate. Based on it, Protargol and Sialor medicines are produced. Silver ions, which are part of the drug, bind to the DNA of pathogenic bacteria that multiply in the nasal cavity, thereby disrupting the life cycle and leading to their death. Unfortunately, the drug "Protargol" can only be bought in departments of those pharmacies that have their own production of medicines, since the shelf life of this medicine is only 3-5 days. Sialor is an industrial analogue of Protargol with a shelf life of up to 30 days; it is available in the form of tablets for the preparation of a medicinal solution.
For allergies
Preparations for sinusitis are not always just antibiotics or antiseptics. For many of those who suffer from allergies, sinusitis becomes a constant companion of life. And antihistamines help to cope with this problem. For example, chloropyramine-based preparations have long been used in therapeutic practice. In addition to the generic itself, called by the name of the active substance, everyone knows a cure for allergies called Suprastin. This drug blocks histamine receptors, due to which it weakens the secretory function of the mucosa, has a slight antispasmodic and hypnotic effect. Antihistamines for the treatment of sinusitis can only be recommended by the doctor leading the patient, setting the regimen and duration of the medication.
Oxymetazoline
The main symptom of sinusitis is difficulty breathing through the nose, which is caused by swelling of the mucosa and increased production of the secretion of the mucosa of the maxillary sinuses and nose. Pharmacy staff often hear the question of which drugs for sinusitis can be used to improve breathing. This may help the funds belonging to the pharmaceutical group of anticongestants and alpha-adrenergic agonists. They constrict blood vessels, relieve swelling of the mucosa, thereby helping to relieve nasal congestion and reduce secretory secretions. One of the leading positions in a rather extensive list of these medicinal substances is oxymetazoline. It is he who acts as an active component in such well-known drugs that relieve nasal congestion as Nazol, Nazivin, Afrin, Rinostop, Vicks-Active. Drugs for the treatment of sinusitis and the common cold, which facilitate nasal breathing, are sold without a doctor’s prescription. But taking them without special indications and the appointment of a specialist, as well as for a long time, is not recommended.
Xylometazoline
Not so long ago, the most popular drugs for the treatment of sinusitis in adults and children were produced on the basis of xylometazoline. This is also an anticongestant, causing vasoconstriction in the mucous membranes of the nasal and paranasal sinuses. Based on this substance, you can find a lot of medicines used in the treatment of sinusitis - Galazolin, Ximelin, Tizin, Xylen, Fornos. These drugs can not be used for more than 5 days, since they cause addiction to the mucosa, making it unable to function properly without the use of the drug. Some of these drugs have been used for more than a dozen years, while others are only gaining popularity and are widely advertised. But the working substance in them is the same, only the forms of release and auxiliary components change. The doctor should recommend the use of nasal medicines with xylometazoline for the treatment of sinusitis, although they can be purchased in the pharmacy network on demand without a prescription.
Means for washing the nasal passages
Removal of the secreted secretion of the nasal mucous membranes and paranasal sinuses is one of the stages of high-quality therapy of ENT diseases. In pharmacies, you can buy drugs that treat sinusitis, which are used specifically for washing the nose and removing mucus and pus. In the vast majority of cases, "sea water" is used as the active component of these fluids - a balanced isotonic salt solution that helps normalize the functionality of the mucous membranes, liquefies and eliminates the accumulating mucus. Such drugs can have special nozzles, with the help of which water is poured into one nostril, passes through the sinuses and pours out through the other nostril, washing away the mucus and exerting an anti-inflammatory effect. Irrigate the mucous membrane and help recovery and drugs in the form of nasal sprays. Which drug to choose, in what pharmaceutical form, the specialist will recommend. The choice of drugs for cleansing the nasal passages is quite large. These are “Aqua Maris”, “Physiomer”, “Aqualor”, “Otrivin”, “Morenazal”, “Marimer”. You need to use liquids for washing the sinuses carefully - read the instructions and repeat the algorithm of actions in strict order, as indicated by the manufacturer.
Help protect the body
Almost any disease as one of the reasons for its appearance and development has a decrease in the functional immunity. Therefore, drugs aimed at activating all systems of this complex structure are also indicated in the treatment of a disease such as sinusitis. Immunomodulators and immunostimulants - a whole range of natural and synthetic substances that help to establish the proper functioning of the immune system. For example, sodium deoxyribonucleate is an organic compound obtained from an aqueous extract of salmon and sturgeon fish milk by chemical and ultrasonic treatment. This substance is able to stimulate B-lymphocytes and T-helpers, as well as activate cells of the monocyte-macrophage system, which has an immunomodulating effect. Sodium deoxyribonucleate works in such preparations as Derinat, Deoxinate, Panagen.
Today, many immunomodulators are widely advertised. For example, Polyoxidonium. As an active component, it contains azoximer bromide, which has a complex immunomodulating, detoxifying, antioxidant and some anti-inflammatory effects. Glucosaminylmuramyl dipeptide, a synthetic immunomodulator, works in the Likopid preparation. This substance activates the work of the cells of the immune system - phagocytes involved in the destruction through the absorption of pathogens. The drug "Lycopid" can be used in the treatment of infectious diseases, even for children from three years.
Any disease is a deterioration in well-being, a violation of the rhythm of life. The disease must be correctly diagnosed so that the doctor can prescribe treatment appropriate to each specific situation. So, drugs for sinusitis should be taken only after examination and only on the recommendation of a specialist, because such a disease requires an integrated approach using drugs of different pharmacological groups, physiotherapy, and adjusting the lifestyle. And only a competent specialist will be able to recommend drugs in accordance with the age and characteristics of the patient's body, given the possible interaction of the active substances of the drugs.