10-minute consultation: sinusitis

doi:10.1136/bmj.39161.557211.47

BMJ 2007;334:1165 (2 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.39161.557211.47

Practice

10-minute consultation: sinusitis

Neil K Chadha, specialist registrar in otolaryngology¹, Rashmi Chadha, general practitioner²

¹ ENT Department, Torbay Hospital, Torquay TQ2 7AA, ² Ivybridge Health Centre, Ivybridge, Devon PL21 0AJ

Correspondence to: N K Chadha neil_chadha@hotmail.com

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

A 39 year old woman attends your surgery with a four day historyof unpleasant yellowish nasal discharge, blocked nose, and severepain across her cheeks and between her eyes. One week ago shehad had a "bad cold" and she thought she was getting better,but then this started.

Sinusitis, now termed rhinosinusitis, is inflammation of oneor more of the paranasal sinuses. It is clinically defined byat least two of the following symptoms: blockage or congestion;discharge or postnasal drip; facial pain or pressure; reductionor loss of smell. In acute rhinosinusitis symptoms persist forup to 12 weeks, with complete resolution; in chronic rhinosinusitissymptoms persist for more than 12 weeks without complete resolution.Viruses (coryza, rhinovirus, or influenza, for example) causemucosal swelling and obstruct the sinus openings into the nose.The symptoms result from increased mucus production, reduceddrainage, ciliary paralysis, and stasis of . . . [Full text of this article]