Antibiotic Awareness: Head Cold or Sinusitis

Seattle Mama Doc shares how to tell the difference between bacteria or viral sinusitis, and at home treatments for viral sinusitis or head colds. Transcript: Sinusitis is caused by a virus or a common cold. That means most sinusitis, also known as a head cold, will get better without antibiotics. I m Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and in partnership with the Washington State Department of Health, I m here today to talk to you about sinusitis. The most important information for you to remember is that most head colds or sinusitis do not need treatment with antibiotics. In fact, antibiotics can do more harm by killing off the good bacteria, and it can increase antibiotic resistance. How do you tell the difference between bacterial sinusitis and viral sinusitis or a head cold Both viral and bacterial sinusitis start with symptoms of the common cold, such as low grade fever, nasal discharge, congestion, sneezing, and coughing. However, bacterial sinusitis is more likely when symptoms of congestion, nasal di