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Over a decade ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that all doctors take the antibiotic therapy route in treating young children with sinusitis, which is an acute sinus infection. However, with the recent complications in the medical treatment arena regarding strains that have grown to become resistant to antibiotics, doctors and medical experts are starting to worry that the culture of prescribing antibiotics could be doing more harm than good. Due to the fear that other strains will start to develop resistance, the new guidelines created by the academy recommends physicians to take a wait and watch approach before jumping immediately to antibiotics.

"The practitioner can either treat immediately or consider waiting for a couple of days," said Dr. Ellen Wald, chairwoman of the academy's subcommittee on acute sinusitis according to HealthDay. "If the kid doesn't look dramatically ill, you can wait an extra couple of days to see if they improve on their own. If we prescribe fewer antibiotics, then the problem of antibiotic resistance is controlled. If you can avoid the use of antibiotics, then that is reasonable."

The members explained that oftentimes, acute sinus infections could be confused for the common cold since they have similar symptoms. By choosing to wait and observe the child, the physicians can determine what the exact condition is before treating it with something that will not help. The academy also stated that only around six to seven percent of children who see a doctor for a respiratory illness actually have sinusitis.

"I think cases of acute sinusitis resolve on their own, by and by," Wald added. "There are not children who are dying left and right from sinusitis. But there is a quality-of-life issue too. You get better more quickly with treatment."

The members remind parents and physicians that if the best course for treatment is antibiotics, they should use them by all means. In the end, this recommendation might not apply to all cases and the ultimate treatment route should be determined based on each unique patient.

"Treatment of chronic sinusitis is not simple, and I think it's important that patients get to a doctor who really understands the disease," Dr. Jordan Josephson said. "Guidelines are guidelines. The ultimate thing is to get to a physician who is a really good diagnostician who can determine whether antibiotics are needed."

The report is available in the journal, Pediatrics.