Antibiotics for sinus infections are an old and established treatment approved by medical science. However recent reports are building doubt over the functioning of these antibiotics. Further the rise of alternative medicine and alternative treatment methods have displaced the applicability and popularity of antibiotics for sinus infections.

So before taking antibiotics for sinus infections, let's take a look at its pros and cons for deciding right.

#1 Antibiotics for sinus infections work as anti bacterial and thus stops the spread of sinus bacteria, or kill the bacteria or enhance the body immune system to fight against the diseases. With this anti-bacterial feature, application of antibiotics to treat sinus infection has become the most common method.

# 2 There are mainly two types of antibiotics for sinus infections – narrow spectrum and broad spectrum. Narrow spectrum antibiotics work against few limited bacteria, while broad spectrum antibiotics work against a wide range of bacteria. So there is always an option to apply the stronger broad spectrum antibiotics for sinus infections if at first the narrow spectrum ones fail.

#3 Also there are four distinct classes of antibiotics for sinus infections – (i) Penicillins, (ii) Macrolides, (iii) Cephalosporins and (iv) Fluoroquinolones. Each of these antibiotics works differently into human body to stop the spread of bacteria.

For example, penicillin interferes into the cell wall formation of bacteria to stop its spread. Eventually these antibiotics for sinus infections kill the bacteria as they find no place to spread without cells. Cephalosporins work quite the same way but with lower side effect chances.

Macrolides are other antibiotics for sinus infections that work by stopping the bacteria to create new proteins, while fluoroquinolones work by disrupting the DNA replication process of the bacteria. Thus each group of antibiotics functions differently. So you may choose one among these that best suits you. Even there are options to change from one to other type of antibiotics for sinus infections, if one does not work.

#4 Each of the type of antibiotics for sinus infections are manufactured by different companies. So also there is a chance to choose from wide options of antibiotics even under the same class. The choice should be in best interest to the patient. So it is always safe to follow a doctor's prescription while taking antibiotics for sinus infections.

Along with all these positive applications, there are also few negative effects of antibiotics for sinus infections.

#1 A recent study conducted by the University of Southampton of England on the effectiveness of antibiotics for sinus infections has proved that though antibiotics work at some extent to fight against the bacteria, but not definitely in a great extent. A comparison between two patients - one who has taken antibiotics for sinus infections and one who has not – proved that both are in same condition after three weeks.

#2 In many cases it has been seen that antibiotics for sinus infections have side effects upon the patients. It can be an allergic reaction or any other form of illness. This is definitely a big negative point of the application of antibiotics for sinus infections.

#3 If the patient is suffering from another disease along with sinus, the application of antibiotics for sinus infections should be planned with well precaution. Otherwise it may affect and rise complications on liver, kidney, bone marrow or heart.

#4 Each person has different reaction to antibiotics for sinus infections. So figuring out the best suited one is rather a difficult job, especially with so many options available. So there is always a risk for wrong application of antibiotics leading to minor or even severe negative effects.

For these reasons it is always best to consult a doctor before taking any antibiotics for sinus infections.