“How can you treat a sinus infection?”

Generally, if your drainage is yellow to green and over 1-2 days, you will need an oral antibiotic such as a Z-pack or Augmentum or Bactrim, depending if you have any allergies. Depending on the severity, you may also require a 3-5 day course of steroids as well.

The treatment is antibiotics for 7-10 days--IF it is TRULY a BACTERIAL sinus infection and NOT just sinus "allergies" or nasal/sinus symptoms from a cold or other virus infection (i.e., antibiotics do NOT help with VIRAL infections like "the common cold"). Examples of effective antibiotics are doxycycline, azithromycin (Z-pak), amoxacillin/Augmentin, Septra( sulfa), or a cephalosporin antibiotic. It is BEST to try to AVOID using antibiotics for sinus symptoms UNLESS it is clear that the cause is a BACTERIA, the infection has lasted longer than the much more common "cold," and the cloinics picture is worse than those of a typical virus or allergic sinus condition (i.e., fever, chills, malaise, purulent [green/yellow/bloody]) sinus discharge, severe sinus pain, severe headache, etc. MOST "sinus infections" will resolve and only using OTC antihistamine/decongestants with or without an "NSAID" (like ibuprofen) for pain (i.e., Advil sinus, Alka-seltzer sinus, Tylenol sinus, etc.).

First you must determine if there is a sinus infection. See ENT