What is the most common cause of bacterial rhinosinusitis?
What causes acute bacterial rhinosinusitis? ABRS is caused by bacteria that infect the lining of your nasal cavity and sinuses. It’s most often caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumonia. Or it may be caused by the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae.
What is acute bacterial rhinosinusitis?
Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS) is an infection of your nasal cavity and sinuses. It’s caused by bacteria. Acute means that you’ve had symptoms for less than 4 weeks, but possibly up to 12 weeks.
How can you tell the difference between viral and bacterial rhinosinusitis?
Mucopurulent secretions are seen with viral and bacterial infections. Secretions may be yellow or green; however, the color does not differentiate a bacterial sinus infection from a viral one, because thick, opaque, yellow secretions may be seen with uncomplicated viral nasopharyngitis.
How serious is a bacterial sinus infection?
Rarely, acute bacterial sinusitis may cause an abscess to form near the eye or the brain. In these cases, surgical treatment will be needed to drain the abscess. Good to know: Complications from bacterial sinusitis are rare, affecting only about one in every ten thousand people with the disorder.
How is bacterial rhinosinusitis treated?
Amoxicillin is considered the first-line antibiotic for most patients with acute bacterial rhinosinusitis. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra) and macrolide antibiotics are reasonable alternatives to amoxicillin for treating acute bacterial rhinosinusitis in patients who are allergic to penicillin.
How is acute rhinosinusitis treated?
Most cases of acute rhinosinusitis are caused by viral infections associated with the common cold. Symptomatic treatment with analgesics, decongestants, and saline nasal irrigation is appropriate in patients who present with nonsevere symptoms (e.g., mild pain, temperature less than 101°F [38.3°C]).
How is acute bacterial rhinosinusitis diagnosed?
Four signs and symptoms are the most helpful in predicting acute bacterial rhinosinusitis: purulent nasal discharge, maxillary tooth or facial pain (especially unilateral), unilateral maxillary sinus tenderness, and worsening symptoms after initial improvement.
Is rhinitis bacterial or viral?
Acute rhinitis commonly results from viral infections but may also be a result of allergies, bacteria, or other causes. Chronic rhinitis usually occurs with chronic sinusitis (chronic rhinosinusitis).
What happens if you have a sinus infection for too long?
You’ll have pain and discomfort until it starts to clear up. In rare cases, untreated sinusitis can lead to meningitis, a brain abscess, or an infection of the bone. Talk to your doctor about your concerns.
Can rhinosinusitis be cured?
In short, chronic sinusitis can be cured but is likely to require some sort of ongoing medical treatment or plan. To find out if a patient has chronic sinusitis, a doctor will first have to do a diagnostic work-up.
