Sinusitis

• Sinusitis is a viral infection in 98% of the cases that resolves on its own in about 3 weeks
• Antibiotics are not required in most cases
• Nasal saline, decongestant or steroid spray may help with symptoms (all available without prescription, please ask your Pharmacist)
• Treating hay fever and stopping smoking can help
• Complications are rare in patients with normal immune system

Sinusitis NICE guidelines - https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/sinusitis/

• 2/100 sinusitis are complicated with bacterial infection, 98/100 are viral infections
• Evidence that antibiotics make little difference to how long symptoms last, or the proportion of people with improved symptoms.
• Withholding antibiotics is unlikely to lead to complications.
• Possible adverse effects, particularly diarrhoea and nausea.
• Factors that might make a bacterial cause more likely.
• Stop smoking, control hayfever

Written information about sinusitis: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sinusitis-sinus-infection/

Admit to hospital or offer immediate abx if hospital admission is not required:

• A severe systemic infection.
• Intraorbital or periorbital complications, including periorbital oedema or cellulitis, a displaced eyeball, double vision, ophthalmoplegia, or newly reduced visual acuity.
• Intracranial complications, including swelling over the frontal bone, symptoms or signs of meningitis, severe frontal headache, or focal neurological signs.