Sinus infection?

Your head is pounding. Your sinuses are clogged, and you have a thick, yellowish or greenish discharge. Sounds like a sinus infection. It's probably time to make an appointment with your physician, right? Not so fast.

New research has found that routine sinus infections aren't really helped by antibiotics and other medicine that's often prescribed.

According to the study, published in a recent Journal of American Medical Association, people suffering from facial pain and a runny nose with greenish or yellowish mucous the main criteria for a diagnosis of sinus infection - generally improved within about two weeks regardless of whether they took antibiotics, steroid sprays or a placebo.

Antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed medicines for sinus infections. Steroid sprays are sometimes prescribed for sinus infections, but the study found they also were no better than dummy drugs, although they appeared to provide some relief for patients with only minor symptoms.

Sinus infections can be very painful, affecting air spaces called sinuses around the nose and in the lower forehead. Inflammation and excess mucous can cause nose congestion, headaches and eye and face pain. The known causes include bacteria, viruses, fungal infections and allergies.

This study found that sinus infections are diagnosed in about 31 million Americans each year and are among the most common reasons for doctor visits.

The study's lead author, Dr. Ian Williamson of the University of Southampton in England, said that inhaling steam and squirting salt water into the nose to flush out thick mucous are among other methods that sometimes provide relief.