No place for antibiotics for acute rhinosinusitis in adults

Without antibiotics, almost half of all participants were cured after 1 week, and 2 out of 3 were cured after 14 days. Five (diagnosis based on symptoms described to a doctor) to 11 (diagnosis confirmed by x‐ray) more people per 100 were cured faster with antibiotics. A computed tomography scan could better predict who would benefit from antibiotics, but routine use would cause health problems related to radiation exposure. Ten more people per 100 were relieved faster of thick, yellow discharge from the nose with antibiotics compared with placebo or no treatment. Thirteen more people per 100 experienced side effects (mostly gastrointestinal) with antibiotics compared with placebo or no treatment. Compared with people who initially started antibiotics, 5 more people per 100 in the placebo or no treatment group had to start antibiotics because their condition worsened. Serious complications (eg, brain abscess) were rare.