Sinus Congestion / Pain - DDx

• infectious vs. noninfectious
• acute (<4 wks) vs. chronic (>12wks)
• infectious:
• viral (influenza, rhinovirus, parainfluenza), should last <2 wks
• bacterial (HIB, strep pneumo, moraxella; nosocomial=staph, pseudomonas), acute or chronic
• fungal (aspergillus, rhizopus, mucor), acute or chronic

• non-infectious:
• allergic
• chemical/irritant
• vasomotor rhinitis
• inflammatory/autoimmune: sarcoid, SLE, Wegner’s, Sjogren’s 
• nasal polys
• nasal tumors
• foreign body
• septal deviation
• adenoid or turbinate hypertrophy

 

(Victoria Kelly MD, 11/12/10)