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MaijaHytönen
JukkapekkaJousimaa

Acute Maxillary Sinusitis

Essentials

  • Nasal blockage, rhinitis and pressure symptoms over the cheeks are often present during a viral upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). These symptoms are associated with the viral infection and no antimicrobial therapy or further investigations are usually indicated Sinusitis in the Common Cold.
  • Diagnosis of acute sinusitis requires clinical examination of the nose and pharynx, in particular. Purulent secretions in the middle nasal meatus, nasopharynx or on the posterior wall of the pharynx suggests bacterial sinusitis.
  • Ultrasonography of the maxillary sinus is the first-line imaging study due to its good availability and lack of adverse effects but it cannot be used to differentiate between viral and bacterial sinusitis.
  • Imaging of the paranasal sinuses may be useful in the case of acute or chronic sinusitis to confirm the diagnosis.
  • Antimicrobial treatment should only be considered for patients with severe symptoms suggesting bacterial infection.
  • In recurring sinusitis, any predisposing factors should be identified and an ENT specialist consulted, as necessary.
  • For maxillary sinusitis in children, see Sinusitis in Children.

Definitions

  • There are maxillary, frontal, sphenoidal and ethmoidal sinuses.
  • Sinusitis means inflammation of one or more of these. The most common form of sinusitis is maxillary sinusitis.
  • In rhinosinusitis, symptoms and findings often occur simultaneously in the area of both the nasal cavity and sinuses.
  • Acute maxillary sinusitis is defined as an inflammation that has lasted no more than 12 weeks. Maxillary sinusitis is defined as chronic if it has lasted more than 12 weeks (see also Chronic or Frequently Recurring Sinusitis).
  • If acute purulent sinusitis recurs at least 3-4 times a year, it is called frequently recurring sinusitis.

Aetiology

  • Sinusitis is usually preceded by viral URTI.
  • Predisposing factors include allergic or other chronic rhinitis, nasal polyps or other tumours in the nasal cavity, structural abnormalities of the middle nasal meatus or septum, dental root infection and, rarely, a foreign body.
  • Air impurities, such as tobacco smoke, may also be predisposing factors.
  • Obstruction of the natural opening (ostium) to the maxillary sinus and impaired ciliary function play a major role in the development of maxillary sinusitis.
  • Rare causes include certain systemic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia and immunodeficiencies.

Symptoms

  • The main symptoms are usually nasal congestion and purulent nasal discharge or postnasal drip.
  • In addition, there may be:
    • facial pain, especially around the eyes and over the cheeks
    • toothache in the upper canine teeth or molars
    • prolonged cough (particularly in the mornings), rhinitis or nasal congestion
    • hyposmia.

Diagnosis

  • The symptoms of a viral common cold and a sinusitis are quite similar. Bacterial aetiology is suggested by:
    • purulent secretions in the middle nasal meatus, nasopharynx or on the posterior wall of the pharynx
    • impaired general condition or fever (> 38 °C)
    • pain radiating to teeth
    • severe local facial pain that may be worse on one side.
  • Clinical examination
    • There is purulent discharge, mucosal swelling or erythema in the nose, particularly the middle nasal meatus.
    • It is easier to examine the nose after applying a decongestant (e.g. wiping the nasal mucosa with a cotton-tipped swab soaked in adrenaline solution).
    • There may be purulent postnasal drip.
  • Ultrasonography is a relatively reliable diagnostic method in adults and teenagers but requires training and practice Sinus Ultrasound and Radiography in the Diagnosis of Sinusitis.
    • If ultrasonography of the maxillary sinus repeatedly shows a back-wall -echo at a distance of 4-6 cm, the diagnostic accuracy for acute stasis of secretions may be as good as 80-95%.
    • The state of the mucous membranes (e.g. mucosal oedema) cannot be reliably evaluated with ultrasonography.
    • Ultrasonography cannot be used to differentiate between viral and bacterial sinusitis.
  • X-ray examination (occipitomental view of the paranasal sinuses) is not necessary for diagnosing acute sinusitis but it may be useful in confirming the diagnosis of recurrent acute or chronic sinusitis.
  • Laboratory investigations are usually not needed for the diagnosis of acute sinusitis. However, in patients with severe symptoms, laboratory investigations (basic blood count with platelet count, CRP) may be necessary to confirm bacterial infection (also other than sinusitis).

Treatment Systemic Corticosteroids for Acute Sinusitis

Symptomatic treatment and glucocorticoid sprays

Antimicrobial treatment

  • Antimicrobial treatment should be considered in patients with symptoms suggestive of bacterial sinusitis (see Diagnosis).
  • If the decision is made to start antimicrobial treatment, amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and doxycycline are suitable. For recommended antimicrobial therapy, see table T1.
  • The recommended length of a course of antimicrobial therapy is 7 days.
  • For patients allergic to penicillin or doxycycline, sulphadiazine/trimethoprim or macrolides may be considered.

Antimicrobial therapy, recommended doses and factors to be considered in choice of medication

DrugDoseNote*
AdultsChildren
First-line drugs
Amoxicillin500 mg three times daily or 750 mg 2 to 3 times daily40 mg/kg/day divided into 2 or 3 doses25% of H. influenzae strains and nearly 100% of M. catarrhalis strains are resistant
DoxycyclineStarting dose 150-200 mg, then 100-150 mg once dailyNot the first-line drug for children
Amoxicillin / clavulanic acid500/125 mg 3 times daily or 875/125 mg 2 to 3 times daily40/5.7 mg/kg/day divided into 2 or 3 dosesIntestinal adverse effects
5-6% of H. influenzae strains resistant
In special cases
Sulphadiazine/trimethoprim160/500 mg twice daily8 mg/kg/day trimethoprim and 25 mg/kg/day sulphadiazine divided into 2 doses10% of pneumococci and more than 20% of H. influenzae strains resistant
Macrolides (azithromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin)See drug-specific instructions from local sources.30% of pneumococci and 100% of H. influenzae strains resistant to macrolides
* Notice local variation in antimicrobial resistance.

Maxillary sinus puncture and irrigation

  • There is little research-based evidence on the efficacy of maxillary sinus puncture but in patients with severe symptoms, it may have the following benefits:
    • removal of purulent discharge
    • alleviation of pressure pain
    • provision of a sample of discharge for bacterial culture
    • a negative finding will exclude purulent maxillary sinusitis.
  • Local anaesthesia is provided with a cotton-tipped swab that has been soaked in a solution of 4% lidocaine, to which 2-3 drops of adrenaline (1:1 000) have been added for each 5 ml. The swab is placed below the inferior nasal concha at the point of puncture where there is bone contact. The anaesthesia will take about 20 minutes to become effective.
  • Local anaesthesia may also be provided with EMLA® cream Local Anesthesia with Emla Cream for Maxillary Sinus Puncture.
  • The puncture is carried out using a straight needle with stylet. The site of puncture is laterally at the inferior nasal meatus 2-3 cm from the nasal orifice.
  • Physiological saline at 37 °C is injected into the maxillary sinus, after which it flows out through the natural opening (ostium) into the nasal meatus.
  • Increased resistance felt during the injection may be due to viscous mucus or an obstructed ostium. However, pressure must not be forcibly increased as this will cause pain and may result in complications.
    • Resistance may be lowered by anaesthetising the middle nasal meatus, which will reduce the mucosal oedema around the ostium.
    • It is also possible to insert another puncture needle into the sinus, through which the irrigation fluid may be evacuated in cases where the ostium does not become patent even after the local anaesthesia.
  • No air must be present in the irrigation syringe as any air injected with pressure into the sinus could predispose the patient to an air embolus.
  • Complications
    • Bleeding usually stops spontaneously. Should bleeding persist the inferior nasal meatus can be re-anaesthetised and a piece of Spongostan® placed in the inferior meatus.
    • If the patient's cheek swells up during the procedure, the tip of the irrigation needle is outside the maxillary sinus. Should this happen, the irrigation must be stopped and the patient prescribed a course of antibiotics.
    • Any irrigation fluid in the tissue will be absorbed within a few days.
    • If the patient's eye or eyelids swell during the procedure, the needle has entered the orbit. As above, the irrigation must be stopped immediately and the patient sent to an ENT emergency department.

Follow-up

  • If the symptoms of sinusitis resolve completely, no follow-up is indicated.
  • If symptoms persist despite treatment:
    • Topical nasal treatment (nasal glucocorticoid, moistening of the nasal mucosa) should be intensified, as necessary.
    • Maxillary sinus puncture should be considered to obtain material for bacterial culture, to confirm the diagnosis and to remove retained secretions.
    • If indicated, antimicrobial therapy in accordance with sensitivity testing should be prescribed.
    • Any predisposing factors should be identified (see above).
      • Allergic or other chronic rhinitis (history, allergy tests)
      • Mucosal oedema, polyps, septal deviation (anterior rhinoscopy)
      • Dental health (odontogenic maxillary sinusitis)

Indications for consulting an ENT specialist

  • Symptomatic maxillary sinusitis persisting after 12 weeks despite appropriate treatment
  • At least 3-4 recurring episodes of maxillary sinusitis a year
  • Suspicion of a complication of maxillary sinusitis, in which case the patient should be referred to emergency services.

Surgical treatment

Management after maxillary surgery