Archive \ Volume.12 2021 Issue 1

An Overview of Sinusitis Diagnosis and Management Approach in PHC

Abduiaziz Dhaifallah Al Thobaiti¹, Abdulaziz Mohammed Hamdi², Mohammed Abdullah O Almalki³, Waeel Hamdan Alghamdi⁴, Mohammad Essam Albaz⁵, Abdulaziz Muqbil Alshammari⁶, Fayz Mohammed Alhamyri⁷, Bosyna Mohammed Alhmyri⁸, Sara Mohammed A Alhmyri⁸, Kowther Mohammed A Alhmyri⁸*, Ali Mohammed F Al Harbi⁹

¹Faculty of Medicine, Taif University, Taif, KSA. ²Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, KSA. ³Faculty of Medicine, Maastricht University, The Netherlands. ⁴Emergency Department, Alnoor Hospital, Makkah, KSA. ⁵National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, KSA. ⁶Emergency Department, King Salman Specialist hospital, Hail, KSA. ⁷Faculty of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, KSA. ⁸Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA. ⁹Faculty of Medicine, Alqunfidah Medical College, Alqunfidah, KSA.

Abstract

Sinusitis is the inflammation of the lining mucosa of the air sinuses. It is classified into chronic and acute rhinosinusitis. Symptoms of rhinosinusitis include facial pain, congestion, and headache. As this disease is widely common, the family physician should be aware of the updates in terms of diagnosis, treatment, and warning signs. The study aimed to review the literature reviewing rhinosinusitis, its etiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of this disease. PubMed database was used for article selection, gathered papers undergone a thorough review. Rhinosinusitis relies on physician experience in establishing the diagnosis, where the history and examination form the ground of the process. Identifying the causative pathogen is as crucial as knowing the patient’s comorbidities in order to set the optimum treatment plan and avoiding the unfortunate consequences.

Keywords: Sinusitis, Rhinosinusitis, Acute rhinosinusitis, Chronic rhinosinusitis, Viral rhinosinusitis, Bacterial rhinosinusitis

INTRODUCTION

Sinusitis is the inflammation of the sinuses, the air spaces seated in the skull and facial bones. The inflammation of the sinusitis is usually accompanied by nasal inflammation due to the nature of the continuous lining mucosa, thence the most accurate name is rhinosinusitis. This disease is widely common with a special increase around the winter and spring seasons [1]. Both chronic and acute rhinosinusitis have a high rate in the community and they can go as high as 4% and 9.7%, respectively [2, 3]. As its symptoms are usually mild, the patients affected are first encountered by family physicians who must be fully aware and knowledgeable about this condition and its risk factor exacerbation and management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed database was used for the selection process of relevant articles, and the following keys were used in the mesh ((“Sinusitis"[Mesh OR "Rhinosinusitis"[Mesh]]) AND (“Diagnosis"[Mesh] OR "Management"[Mesh] OR "Risk factors"[Mesh])). For the inclusion criteria, the articles were selected based on including one of the following words: sinusitis, rhinosinusitis, risk factors, evaluation, management, or diagnosis. Exclusion criteria were all other articles that did not meet the criteria by not having any of the inclusion criteria results in their topic.

Review

There are 4 paired sinuses, each one is named after the bone in which they are located - ethmoid sphenoid, frontal, and maxillary. Rhinosinusitis can be classified into three subcategories according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) based on symptom duration. Acute rhinosinusitis (ARS): duration of fewer than 4 weeks; subacute: 4 - 12 weeks; and chronic (CRS): more than 12 weeks [4]. The acute rhinosinusitis is further divided into, viral, bacterial, and rarely fungal. Additionally, chronic rhinosinusitis can also be divided into chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).

Etiology and Pathophysiology

Although rhinosinusitis can have similar symptoms, that does not imply they all have a similar course and etiological background. Viral upper respiratory infections are the most prevalent cause of rhinosinusitis where rhinovirus is the most common identifiable pathogen [5]. Other involved viruses are: respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, coronavirus, and influenza [6]. On the other hand, bacterial rhinosinusitis is usually manifest as a secondary superinfection on top of viral succeeder. H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, and M. catarrhalis are the major bacteria obtained from bacterial rhinosinusitis [7]. The pathophysiology behind it that when viral or allergic sinusitis occurs, it causes three key changes hiders the normal physiology of the sinuses system. Sinus mucosa becomes inflamed and oedemic, consequently, sinus ostium got obstructed and mucociliary activity got disturbed as well. Those three alterations deliver fertile ground for bacterial growth and multiplication [4]. Chronic rhinosinusitis used to be considered as a long-term complication of the acute episode. Moreover, its exact pathophysiology is unclear. Multiple hypotheses have been introduced in order to demonstrate a better understanding of the disease, which include but not limited to: fungal, bacteria-based, biofilm, microbiome, and immune barrier hypotheses [8].

Risk Factors

The predisposing factors of rhinosinusitis can be easily categorized into host factors and environmental factors. Genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis, primary immunodeficiencies, and primary ciliary dyskinesia are all predetermined risk factors for developing rhinosinusitis [9]. Gastroesophageal reflux and asthma also exhibit an association with developing chronic rhinosinusitis [10, 11]. In spite of the common belief that the atopic status of the patient is directly related to having CRS, studies still cannot explain the exact involvement if any, even though physicians still include antiallergic drugs in the treatment plan of rhinosinusitis as they show efficacy [8]. For the environmental factors, smoking, whether first or second hand, has a positive correlation with CRS [12, 13]. 

Clinical Presentation

The acute rhinosinusitis symptoms include a history of recent upper respiratory tract infection rhinorrhea, cough, facial pain, postnasal drip, fever, congestion, and mucopurulent discharge. Facial pain is usually exacerbated by leaning forward. Moreover, the site of the pain can be suggestive of which sinus is affected. Chronic rhinosinusitis shares almost the same symptoms but with less specificity. Headache is very common in CRS patients, with a pattern that tends to wear off after its peak around three to four hours since waking up [14].

Collection of signs are expected to be found in patients with rhinosinusitis. Decreased nasal airflow with injected hyperemic mucosa is to be found in both acute and chronic variants. Polyposis can be present in case of prolonged chronic rhinosinusitis, but its absence does not exclude the disease. In a general practitioner’s setting, the use of thudichum (nasal) speculum can provide a very limited view. If further visualizing is indicated, rhinoscopy with a rigid or flexible endoscope provides a more thorough examination. If any anatomical changes, such as deviation of the nasal septum, hypertrophic turbinates, septal spurs, or nasal polyps are found, it should be documented as it would influence the treatment option of the current patient [14].

Diagnosis

Both patient history and examination are part of making the diagnosis of rhinosinusitis. Table 1 enlists the criteria for chronic and acute rhinosinusitis [15]. Keeping documentation as a family physician of all similar episodes is important in planning the upcoming step [14]. Laboratory tests are usually not recommended neither radiological, in case of need for such investigation a referral to otorhinolaryngologists should be made. In that specialized setting, endoscopically-directed middle meatal culture and CT scan of the paranasal sinuses would be carried accordingly [16].

Management 

The treatment plan for rhinosinusitis covers both the symptoms and underlying cause. In ARS combination of decongestion, nasal corticosteroid, and antibiotic, if a bacterial variant is suspected, is the mainstay of treatment. Decongestion comes in form of an oral or topical nasal spray. The topical formula provides faster relief and a more potent effect in comparison to the oral one, however, prolonged use (>10 days) may lead to tachyphylaxis and a rebound swelling of the nasal mucosa (rhinitis medicamentosa). Consequently, the oral form is preferred when ling term usage is considered. Nasal corticosteroid (fluticasone propionate) is recommended to be used in the early stages of upper respiratory tract infection, as it tends to prevent paranasal sinusitis, especially in rhinovirus‐positive subjects. The usage of nasal corticosteroid to be between 14 - 21 days. Finally, antibiotics should be only prescribed for ABRS, the preferred regimen and drug are: Amoxicillin 500 mg every 8 h for 5 - 7 days OR Amoxicillin/Clavulanate 625 mg every 8 h for 5 - 7 days. Other options to be considered are antihistamine, mucolytic agents, and nasal saline irrigation. In chronic rhinosinusitis, prolonged treatment with nasal corticosteroid is usually carried with the limited use of antibiotics to acute evident bacterial exacerbation [16, 17].

One important practice to be mastered in family medicine is a referral. Table 2 highlights the indication of early and urgent referral for both acute and chronic rhinosinusitis. Otorhinolaryngologists may consider surgery after the failure of more vigorous medical managment [16].

Complication

Complications of rhinosinusitis can be very fatal, thence a rapid detection of their manifestation should be done. They resulted either by direct erosion of the walls of the sinuses next to the orbit and the cranium or through hematogenous spread. Those symptoms and signs include orbital and neurological indicators; symptoms and signs to look for include inflammatory edema of the eyelids with or without orbital involvement, ophthalmoplegia, reduced visual acuity, displaced globe, focal neurological signs, signs of meningitis, frontal swelling, or severe frontal headache. Box 1 summarizes the possible serious complications of acute rhinosinusitis [17].

CONCLUSION

Rhinosinusitis is a prevalent disease found in primary care clinics. Full history and proper examination would identify the variant and underlying etiology. The most common virus involved is rhinovirus while the most common bacterium is S. pneumoniae. Treatment is composed of symptoms management and underlying etiology eradication if applicable. Surgical interventions are preserved in persistent cases with the possibility of developing serious complications.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: None

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None

FINANCIAL SUPPORT: None

ETHICS STATEMENT: None