In cases of acute sinusitis, how long should a patient wait before antibiotics are considered?

In cases of acute sinusitis, current guidelines recommend that a patient should generally wait about 7 days before considering antibiotics. This is primarily due to the fact that most cases of acute sinusitis are viral in origin and resolve on their own without the need for antibiotic treatment. The 7-day window allows the patient's immune system time to clear the viral infection, which is typically the cause of the symptoms like nasal congestion, facial pain, and discharge.

If the symptoms persist beyond this time frame or if they worsen, there is an indication for bacterial sinusitis, at which point antibiotics may be appropriate. This approach helps to minimize unnecessary antibiotic use, reducing the risk of resistance and side effects. Therefore, waiting for about a week before initiating antibiotic therapy aligns with evidence-based guidelines and standard practice in the management of acute sinusitis.