Sinusitis
Sinusitis is defined as "an inflammatory process of the mucous membranes of the paranasal sinuses that occurs in three stages: acute, subacute, and chronic. Sinusitis results from any condition causing ostial obstruction or from pathophysiologic changes in the mucociliary transport mechanism."[1]
Etiology/causes
Microbiology
Diagnosis
History and physical examination
A systematic review by the Rational Clinical Examination concluded "maxillary toothache, poor response to nasal decongestants, abnormal transillumination, and colored nasal discharge by history or examination are the most useful clinical findings in primary care populations."[2] More recently reported is that a "red streak in the lateral recess of the oropharynx predicts acutesinusitis." (picture)[3]
CT Scan
Interpreting abnormal CT scan results is difficult because most patients with a common cold will have abnormalities of the maxillary sinuses.[4]
Treatment
Patients diagnosed without using imaging
One patient in 15 benefit from antibiotics if their diagnosis is based on clinical findings without use of imaging.[5][6] This number is improved to 8 if there is purulent rhinorrhea.
Topical corticosteroids do not seem to help patients who are diagnosed without imaging.[6]
Patients diagnosed with using imaging
References
- ↑ National Library of Medicine. Sinusitis. Retrieved on 2007-12-04.
- ↑ Williams JW, Simel DL (1993). "Does this patient have sinusitis? Diagnosing acute sinusitis by history and physical examination". JAMA 270 (10): 1242–6. PMID 8355389. [e] OVID
- ↑ Thomas C, Aizin V (2006). "Brief report: a red streak in the lateral recess of the oropharynx predicts acute sinusitis". J Gen Intern Med 21 (9): 986–8. DOI:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00498.x. PMID 16918746. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Gwaltney JM, Phillips CD, Miller RD, Riker DK (1994). "Computed tomographic study of the common cold". N. Engl. J. Med. 330 (1): 25–30. PMID 8259141. [e]
- ↑ Young et al (2008). Antibiotics for adults with clinically diagnosed acute rhinosinusitis: a meta-analysis of individual patient data. Lancet DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60416-X
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Williamson IG, Rumsby K, Benge S, et al (2007). "Antibiotics and topical nasal steroid for treatment of acute maxillary sinusitis: a randomized controlled trial". JAMA 298 (21): 2487–96. DOI:10.1001/jama.298.21.2487. PMID 18056902. Research Blogging.