Sinusitis
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Basics
Description
- Acute sinusitis is a symptomatic inflammation of ≥1 paranasal sinuses of <4 weeks duration resulting from impaired drainage and retained secretions accompanied by obstruction, facial pain/pressure/fullness, or both. Because rhinitis and sinusitis usually coexist, “rhinosinusitis” is the preferred term.
- Disease is subacute when symptomatic for 4 to 12 weeks, recurrent acute when ≥4 annual episodes without persistent symptoms in between, and chronic when symptomatic for >12 weeks.
- Uncomplicated rhinosinusitis has no extension of inflammation beyond paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity.
- System(s) affected: head/eyes/ears/nose/throat (HEENT), pulmonary
Epidemiology
- Affects 1 in 8 adults accounting for >30 million individuals in the United States each year diagnosed with rhinosinusitis
- Diagnosis of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis remains the fifth leading reason for prescribing antibiotics.
- Viral cause in 90–98% of cases
- 0.5–2% of viral rhinosinusitis episodes have a bacterial superinfection.
Incidence
Incidence is highest in early fall through early spring (related to incidence of viral upper respiratory infection [URI]). Adults have two to three viral URIs per year; 90% of these colds are accompanied by viral rhinosinusitis. It is the fifth most common diagnosis made during family physician visits.
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- Important features
- Inflammation and edema of the sinus mucosa
- Obstruction of the sinus ostia
- Impaired mucociliary clearance
- Secretions that are not cleared become hospitable to bacterial growth.
- Inflammatory response (neutrophil influx and release of cytokines) damages mucosal surfaces.
- Viral: vast majority of cases (rhinovirus; influenza A and B; parainfluenza virus; respiratory syncytial, adeno-, corona-, and enteroviruses)
- Bacterial (complicates 0.5–2% of viral cases)
- More likely if symptoms worsen within 5 to 6 days after initial improvement
- No improvement within 10 days of symptom onset
- >3 to 4 days of fever >102°F and facial pain and purulent nasal discharge
- Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis are the most common bacterial pathogens.
- Often overdiagnosed, which leads to overuse of and increasing resistance to antibiotics
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus present in 0–15.9% of patients
- Fungal: seen in immunocompromised hosts (uncontrolled diabetes, neutropenia, use of corticosteroids) or as a nosocomial infection
Risk Factors
- Viral URI
- Allergic rhinitis
- Asthma
- Cigarette smoking
- Dental infections and procedures
- Anatomic variations
- Tonsillar and adenoid hypertrophy
- Turbinate hypertrophy, nasal polyps
- Cleft palate
- Immunodeficiency (e.g., HIV)
- Cystic fibrosis (CF)
General Prevention
- Hand washing to prevent transmission of viral infection
- Childhood vaccinations up to date
- Avoid close contacts with symptomatic individuals.
- Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.
-- To view the remaining sections of this topic, please log in or purchase a subscription --
Basics
Description
- Acute sinusitis is a symptomatic inflammation of ≥1 paranasal sinuses of <4 weeks duration resulting from impaired drainage and retained secretions accompanied by obstruction, facial pain/pressure/fullness, or both. Because rhinitis and sinusitis usually coexist, “rhinosinusitis” is the preferred term.
- Disease is subacute when symptomatic for 4 to 12 weeks, recurrent acute when ≥4 annual episodes without persistent symptoms in between, and chronic when symptomatic for >12 weeks.
- Uncomplicated rhinosinusitis has no extension of inflammation beyond paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity.
- System(s) affected: head/eyes/ears/nose/throat (HEENT), pulmonary
Epidemiology
- Affects 1 in 8 adults accounting for >30 million individuals in the United States each year diagnosed with rhinosinusitis
- Diagnosis of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis remains the fifth leading reason for prescribing antibiotics.
- Viral cause in 90–98% of cases
- 0.5–2% of viral rhinosinusitis episodes have a bacterial superinfection.
Incidence
Incidence is highest in early fall through early spring (related to incidence of viral upper respiratory infection [URI]). Adults have two to three viral URIs per year; 90% of these colds are accompanied by viral rhinosinusitis. It is the fifth most common diagnosis made during family physician visits.
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- Important features
- Inflammation and edema of the sinus mucosa
- Obstruction of the sinus ostia
- Impaired mucociliary clearance
- Secretions that are not cleared become hospitable to bacterial growth.
- Inflammatory response (neutrophil influx and release of cytokines) damages mucosal surfaces.
- Viral: vast majority of cases (rhinovirus; influenza A and B; parainfluenza virus; respiratory syncytial, adeno-, corona-, and enteroviruses)
- Bacterial (complicates 0.5–2% of viral cases)
- More likely if symptoms worsen within 5 to 6 days after initial improvement
- No improvement within 10 days of symptom onset
- >3 to 4 days of fever >102°F and facial pain and purulent nasal discharge
- Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis are the most common bacterial pathogens.
- Often overdiagnosed, which leads to overuse of and increasing resistance to antibiotics
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus present in 0–15.9% of patients
- Fungal: seen in immunocompromised hosts (uncontrolled diabetes, neutropenia, use of corticosteroids) or as a nosocomial infection
Risk Factors
- Viral URI
- Allergic rhinitis
- Asthma
- Cigarette smoking
- Dental infections and procedures
- Anatomic variations
- Tonsillar and adenoid hypertrophy
- Turbinate hypertrophy, nasal polyps
- Cleft palate
- Immunodeficiency (e.g., HIV)
- Cystic fibrosis (CF)
General Prevention
- Hand washing to prevent transmission of viral infection
- Childhood vaccinations up to date
- Avoid close contacts with symptomatic individuals.
- Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.
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