MEDICAL UPDATE: Sinusitis and HIV Disease

MEDICAL UPDATE: Sinusitis and HIV Disease

Being Alive Newsletter; December 1992
Mark Katz MD and reported by Jim Stoecker

Occurrence of sinusitis, or infection of the sinuses, is significantly higher among HIV+ people than among those who are negative. One study reported a 59% incidence of sinusitis in an HIV+ study group, in contrast to a 15% incidence in the HIV- control group.

Symptoms of sinusitis include headache, nasal stuffiness, and sometimes fevers. Most sinus infections are caused by bacteria and can thus be treated with antibiotics. Augmentin at 500 mg, three times a day, for three weeks, is an antibiotic regimen that is often prescribed. Because of the location of the sinuses, and because HIV+ people usually need a longer than normal course of antibiotics to realize the effect, the three week treatment is recommended.

If sinusitis does not respond to the antibacterial regimen, it may be that the condition is being caused by fungi. Fungal infections can be treated with antifungal drugs such as fluconazole.
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