GVAC - It's not a simple question, but there's a fairly simple answer.
Antibiotics are overprescribed. Many doctors placate patients who come in with a cold by putting them on an antibiotic just in case.
That's not the worst part. The general population does not understand how antibiotics work and why the pills have to be taken for a full 10 days (on average) even if you feel better.
Because of improper use of antibiotics by consumers, we've naturally selected for bacteria that is immune to some of our most powerful antibiotics. Staph infections are killing people at hospitals b/c antibiotics no longer work on them. Every year new, (mostly synthetic) antibiotics are unleashed on the market and the bacteria develop resistences to them aided by an ignorant public and complacent doctors.
To further complicate matter GREATLY, the food you eat, from milk to meat is full of antibiotics. Cattle and poultry are doused with megadoses of a broad spectrum of antibiotics to stave off disease. Naturally the bacteria that survive develop resistances to these antibiotics and the resistence is furthered when people eat the stuff exposed to the antibiotics and do not take it in a dosage sufficient to kill off all bacteria, but only the weak ones.
It's evolution shaped by humans in the course of our own lifetime.
The CDC is very concerned about this problem and has started a public awareness campaign targeted at consumers and doctors alike. They give pretty grim figures for the "super-resistant" bacteria that are evolving. Eventually some experts believe that antibiotics will no longer be an effective way to treat bacterial infections b/c they just won't work. In the interum, synthetic antibiotics which bacteria have never encountered before (b/c they're man made) hold the greatest hope.
Now, having said all that, bacterial infections have potential to be fatal. Did you know that untreated sinus infections usually worsen and can cause infection of the eye socket, meningitis, or infection of the brain linings, chronic facial pain, loss of smell and chronic headaches. Plus, sinusitis is contageous.
Finally, sinusitus hurts. It makes you feel ucky and less functional.
Antibiotic treatment will almost certainly clear up r sinusitus. Your doctor should be up on which antibiotic is working the best)
It comes down to this: Take the antibiotics and feel better;or don't take the antibiotics and develop worsening symptomotology and remain contageous.
To me the choice is clear.
ALWAYS finish a course of antibiotics prescribed by your doctor unless otherwise instructed.
Feel better.
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