Disorders of the Nose and Sinuses Flashcards
Which of the following conditions when found in young children is suggestive of cystic fibrosis?
A. Chronic rhinorrhea
B. Nasal polyps
C. Perennial allergic rhinitis
D. Acute sinusitis
B. Nasal polyps!
What are some other names for acute rhinosinusitis?
acute rhinitis, acute viral rhinitis, common cold
What is the cause of acute rhinosinusitis?
caused by a virus (rhinovirus, adenovirus, others)
Why do we get colds throughout our whole lives?
There are many serologic types of each virus, so we are continuously susceptible.
Describe the course of a case of acute rhinosinusitis.
usually self-limiting and benign
How would a patient with acute rhinosinusitis present?
nasal congestion, decreased sense of smell, watery rhinorrhea, sneezing, malaise, throat discomfort
What would be the physical exam findings of a patient with acute rhinosinusitis?
erythematous, edematous nasal mucosa + watery discharge
What are four ways to treat acute rhinosinusitis?
Treatment is supportive – there are no antiviral treatments available for viral rhinosinusitis. However, you can suggest zinc, saline nasal irrigation, oral decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), and nasal sprays with oxymetazoline or phenylephrine.
Over __ mg of zinc acetate in the form of lozenges reduces symptom duration in acute rhinosinusitis.
> 75 mg
Saline nasal irrigation results in a reduced need of…
NSAIDs, in a patient with acute rhinosinusitis
What is the dosage of pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) for acute rhinosinusitis? What does this drug help to relieve?
30-60 mg q 4-6 hours to give some relief of nasal congestion and rhinorrhea
What are two nasal sprays that can be used for acute rhinosinitus (and their brand names)?
oxymetazoline = Afrin, Dristan, Vicks Sinex, or Zicam; OR phenylephrine = Neo-Synephrine, Little Noses
What are the benefits and risks of oxymetazoline or phenylephrine nasal sprays? How long should patients take these to avoid the risks?
rapidly effective but should not be used more than three days to prevent rebound congestion; withdrawal after four or more days of use can lead to rhinitis medicamentosa
What is rhinitis medicamentosa?
addictive-like need for continuous use of nasal sprays; requires mandatory cessation of the use of the spray, and prescribe topical or oral corticosteroids
What would a gentle formula or extra strength dosage of a phenylephrine nasal spray be?
gentle = 0.125%, extra strength = 1.0%
What are some complications of acute rhinosinusitis?
Predisposes people to the development of... Acute bacterial sinusitis Acute otitis media Eustachian tube dysfunction Bronchitis Asthma Cystic fibrosis exacerbation
Acute sinusitis lasts less than __ weeks.
4
What is the cause of acute sinusitis?
inflammation of sinus cavities due to viruses or bacteria (so could be acute viral rhinosinusitis = AVRS or acute bacterial rhinosinusitis = ABRS)
How is acute bacterial rhinosinusitis caused?
Edematous mucosa causes obstruction of the sinus cavity; accumulation of these secretions in the cavity becomes secondarily infected by bacteria
Acute sinusitis usually follows a…
URI
The most common causative agent for acute sinusitis is…
a virus!
What are the typical bacterial etiologies of acute sinusitis?
Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis
How would a patient with acute sinusitis present?
purulent nasal drainage, nasal obstruction or congestion, facial pain and pressure, altered smell, cough, fever, headache, otalgia, halitosis, dental pain, and fatigue
What would a PE of a patient with acute sinusitis reveal?
pain over sinuses when asked to lean forward, diffuse mucosal edema, copious rhinorrhea or purulent discharge
How do we diagnose acute sinusitis?
based on clinical signs and symptoms – diagnostic testing is not initially indicated
How do you differentiate bacterial sinusitis from viral?
persistance of symptoms more than ten days after onset; worsening of symptoms within ten days after initial improvement
How do you differentiate viral sinusitis from a common cold?
Rhinitis (sneezing and rhinorrhea) predominates in the common cold.
What does fluid in the sinuses look like on x-ray?
A normal air filled sinus would be darker; a fluid filled sinus would look whitish and hazy.
How do you treat AVRS vs. ABRS?
AVRS = relieve nasal congestion and rhinorrea; treatment doesn’t shorten the course of the illness!
ABRS = antibiotics to eliminate the infection and reduce complications
How do we treat acute sinusitis?
saline nasal spray, decongestants, antibiotics (if bacterial)
What antibiotics would we use for acute sinusitis? What antibiotics would be BAD to use?
(for 10-14 days)
amoxicillin-clavulanate, doxycylcine, levofloxacin or moxifloxacin…NOT macrolides, TMP-SMZ, or 2nd and 3rd generation cephalosporins
What are three complications of sinusitis?
osteomyelitis, cavernous sinus thrombosis, orbital cellulitis
When do we offer a referral to a patient with sinusitis?
when they have decreased visual acuity, diplopia, periorbital edema, severe headache, altered mental status
What is chronic sinusitis?
inflammation of the sinuses that lasts twelve weeks or longer
Who is affected by chronic sinusitis?
adults AND kids (but mostly middle aged adults)
What is the onset of chronic sinusitis like?
onset can be abrupt (as a URI or acute sinusitis that doesn’t resolve) OR insidious and slow over months!
What are the four cardinal symptoms of chronic sinusitis?
- mucopurulent drainage
- nasal decongestion
- facial pain or pressure
- reduction in sense of smell
CT of acute vs. chronic sinusitis
acute may show fluid levels; chronic could show mucosal thickening
How is chronic sinusitis diagnosed?
12 weeks, objective evidence of mucosal inflammation (sinus CT is preferred modality of imaging)
How is chronic sinusitis treated?
typically not cured – but the goal is to control symptoms and reduce exacerbations; use intranasal steroids or saline rinses, and antimicrobials as needed
When should we refer patients with chronic sinusitis?
sinus culture direct visualization (rhinoscopy, nasal endoscopy)