Do I Need Antibiotics? Sinus Infection Vs. Strep Throat

Despite the clear warning recently issued by the CDC (with an assist from Consumer Reports), confusion still reigns over when antibiotics are strictly necessary for various ailments of the face and throat.

This week I wanted to highlight two of those ailments: sinus infection and strep throat, two issues which are, in the minds of many people, interchangeable bacterial concerns.

It is a common misconception that all infections require antibiotics. Our bodies have developed into infection-fighting machines over many millions of years; this is why not every sore throat or round of the flu is fatal. Sinus infections trigger the same mechanism, which is why numerous studies show the vast majority of sinus infections resolve on their own just as well as with antibiotics.

Strep throat is a bit different, as the bacteria are deeply embedded and tend to be more aggressive, and less susceptible to the body’s defenses. That’s not to say that your body couldn’t defeat strep on its own, it’s just to say that the chances are dramatically lower – so much so that antibiotics are considered a wise choice statistically.

If you have pain in the face or throat and believe an infection could be to blame, please contact the Los Angeles Sinus Institute to learn more today.