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Can Prednisolone And Augmentin Be Taken Together For Sinusitis And Lymphadenitis?
Question: Question 1: Does prednisolone get prescribe with Augmentin for sinusitis/tonsilitis/lymphadenitis?
Question 2: What if the pain from sinusitis subside 75% after the augmentin course of 7 days? The fever may still be there, symptomatically improved, but not fully. Do you advise the patient to continue augmentin for another week until the pain completely subside? What do you suggest in these kind of cases?
Question 2: What if the pain from sinusitis subside 75% after the augmentin course of 7 days? The fever may still be there, symptomatically improved, but not fully. Do you advise the patient to continue augmentin for another week until the pain completely subside? What do you suggest in these kind of cases?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Prednisolone would be a reasonable medication to use along with the antibiotic if there is considerable inflammation.
Prednisolone is a corticosteroid medication which decreases inflammation.
In the US, a steroid such as this is not routinely given for these problems due to the risk of side effects, but a short course (under 2 weeks) is reasonable.
Any antibiotic should be taken for the full course. For bacterial sinus infections, it should be taken continuously for 2 weeks. Stopping taking it before the prescription out has 2 risks:
1. The remaining bacteria that are still there can grow and re-establish the infection.
2. Stopping an antibiotic before done can increase the risk of resistant bacteria growing which the antibiotic (and possibly no antibiotic) will be able to treat.
So if it is established that there truly appears to be a bacterial infection (symptoms occurring for more than 10-14 days), then take both medications and specifically take the antibiotic for the full course regardless of whether your symptoms have resolved.
If you can, use sterile saline rinses to wash the sinuses too.
If you smoke cigarettes, now is the time to quit as tobacco increases the risk of infection and prolongs recovery.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Prednisolone would be a reasonable medication to use along with the antibiotic if there is considerable inflammation.
Prednisolone is a corticosteroid medication which decreases inflammation.
In the US, a steroid such as this is not routinely given for these problems due to the risk of side effects, but a short course (under 2 weeks) is reasonable.
Any antibiotic should be taken for the full course. For bacterial sinus infections, it should be taken continuously for 2 weeks. Stopping taking it before the prescription out has 2 risks:
1. The remaining bacteria that are still there can grow and re-establish the infection.
2. Stopping an antibiotic before done can increase the risk of resistant bacteria growing which the antibiotic (and possibly no antibiotic) will be able to treat.
So if it is established that there truly appears to be a bacterial infection (symptoms occurring for more than 10-14 days), then take both medications and specifically take the antibiotic for the full course regardless of whether your symptoms have resolved.
If you can, use sterile saline rinses to wash the sinuses too.
If you smoke cigarettes, now is the time to quit as tobacco increases the risk of infection and prolongs recovery.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi, Augmentin leaflet actually suggests using for 7 days. But anyway, can you please advise the following:
What if the pain from sinusitis subside 75% after the augmentin course of 14 days? The fever may still be there, symptomatically improved, but not fully. Do you advise the patient to continue augmentin for another week until the pain completely subside? What do you suggest in these kind of cases?
What if the pain from sinusitis subside 75% after the augmentin course of 14 days? The fever may still be there, symptomatically improved, but not fully. Do you advise the patient to continue augmentin for another week until the pain completely subside? What do you suggest in these kind of cases?
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It is not advisable to take an antibiotic only until symptoms resolve for the reasons I wrote about above with the return of infection and development of bacterial resistance to the antibiotic.
Symptoms can resolve before or after an antibiotic is done. If an antibiotic is going to be effective, usually there are signs of improvement (not necessarily full improvement) in the first 48 hours.
While it may take longer for the infection to fully clear, if an antibiotic is working, the fever should resolve in that first couple of days.
If no signs of improvement, then it may not be effective for that bacteria or there may be some resistance.
If you took the Augmentin for 14 days, there should be no persistent fever.
It means that there is still an infection or something else going on. So no, if there is still a fever, you need to see your doctor again.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It is not advisable to take an antibiotic only until symptoms resolve for the reasons I wrote about above with the return of infection and development of bacterial resistance to the antibiotic.
Symptoms can resolve before or after an antibiotic is done. If an antibiotic is going to be effective, usually there are signs of improvement (not necessarily full improvement) in the first 48 hours.
While it may take longer for the infection to fully clear, if an antibiotic is working, the fever should resolve in that first couple of days.
If no signs of improvement, then it may not be effective for that bacteria or there may be some resistance.
If you took the Augmentin for 14 days, there should be no persistent fever.
It means that there is still an infection or something else going on. So no, if there is still a fever, you need to see your doctor again.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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