Acute sinusitis

Majority of cases in adults and children are of viral etiology.

Duration of symptoms more than 10 days often indicates bacterial cause.

Imaging is not required for diagnosis unless complications are suspected.

Condition is usually self-limiting; however, symptomatic therapy is recommended.

Antibiotics are only recommended in select patient groups (e.g., immunocompromised or with severe disease).

Acute sinusitis (also commonly known as acute rhinosinusitis) is a symptomatic inflammation of the mucosal lining of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, where clinical symptoms have been present for 4 weeks or less. It can be caused by either a viral or a bacterial infection.[1]Lanza DC, Kennedy DW. Adult rhinosinusitis defined. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1997 Sep;117(3 Pt 2):S1-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9334782?tool=bestpractice.com