Document Detail


Recognition and management of sinusitis.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  9664199     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Acute sinusitis frequently follows upper respiratory tract infections. Patients complain of headache, facial pain, fever and purulent rhinorrhoea. Diagnosis is based upon the symptoms, and treatment comprises symptomatic relief with analgesics, topical or systemic decongestants and steam inhalation. If indicated, antibiotics should be given for an adequate period of time. Patients with chronic sinusitis complain of a combination of nasal obstruction, rhinorrhoea and postnasal drip associated with intermittent facial pain, with symptoms persisting for 3 months or more. Predisposition to the condition may be caused by rhinitis (allergic or nonallergic) and anatomical variants. Failure of mucociliary transport and sinus ostial obstruction leads to mucosal oedema, mucous hypersecretion and chronic infection. Current treatment aims are to control rhinitis and improve ventilation and function of the sinuses. Rhinitis may be controlled with the long term use of topical corticosteroids, mast cell stabilisers or antihistamines, either alone or in combination. Secretions may be cleared with steam inhalation and/or saline nasal douching. Failure to control chronic sinusitis with medical treatment may indicate surgery. The aim of surgery is to improve ventilation and facilitate drainage of the sinuses, allowing the restoration of normal function. Removal of nasal polyps, reduction of inferior turbinates or septal straightening may be all that is required. Some patients will need endoscopic ethmoidectomy and middle meatal antrostomy. Improved ventilation in the ethmoid infundibulum may help to resolve disease in maxillary and frontal sinuses. Medical treatment of underlying rhinitis will need to be continued postoperatively, often in the long term, while special consideration needs to be paid to sinusitis in children, in relation to dental disease and in the immunosuppressed. Complications of acute and chronic sinusitis include intraorbital and intracranial sepsis. These potentially lethal complications need urgent evaluation with high resolution computerised tomography (CT) scanning, intravenous administration of broad spectrum antibiotics (including anaerobic and microaerophilic cover) and urgent surgical drainage as appropriate.
Authors:
K L Evans
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Drugs     Volume:  56     ISSN:  0012-6667     ISO Abbreviation:  Drugs     Publication Date:  1998 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1998-09-28     Completed Date:  1998-09-28     Revised Date:  2005-11-16    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7600076     Medline TA:  Drugs     Country:  NEW ZEALAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  59-71     Citation Subset:  IM; X    
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Gloucester Royal Hospital, England.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis,  therapy
Acute Disease
Adult
Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
Child
Chronic Disease
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Mycoses / diagnosis,  drug therapy
Sinusitis / diagnosis*,  drug therapy,  radiography,  surgery
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Anti-Bacterial Agents

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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