The widespread use of standard antibiotics to treat sinus infections does not help cure patients, says Southampton researchers.
In fact they may even harm them by increasing their resistance to the drugs, according to a study from the University of Southampton.
The researchers found that the percentage of patients who recovered in 10 days was about the same whether they took an antibiotic or a placebo.
"With a little bit of patience, the body will usually heal itself," said Dr Ian Williamson, a family medicine researcher at the University of Southampton and lead author of the paper published in the 5 December issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The results showed that patients should be more willing to forgo antibiotics, although they should still check with their doctors when a cold worsens into a sinus infection.
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