Sinusitis is one of the most diagnosed diseases in the United States, affecting approximately 16% of the adult population, and is responsible for nearly $5.8 billion in health care costs annually, according to an updated practice parameter. The Diagnosis and Management of Sinusitis: A Practice Parameter Update is featured in the December 2005 issue of the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology (JACI) and is currently available on the JACI's Web site at www.jacionline.org. The JACI is the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

The practice parameter provides an updated definition of sinusitis and new recommendations for the diagnosis and management of sinusitis, including predisposing factors, antibiotic use, when to see a specialist, and other diseases associated with sinusitis.

"This practice parameter is intended to improve on the diagnosis and management of patients," said Raymond G. Slavin, MD, MS, FAAAAI, and lead author of the updated practice parameter. "This will result in reduced health care costs, and a better quality of life for patients with sinusitis."

Sinusitis is an inflammation of one or more of the paranasal sinuses, and can be divided into acute, subacute, chronic and recurrent. The classifications are based on how long symptoms last, the specific sinus involved, or both. The updated classification is as follows:

• Acute sinusitis: symptoms for less than 4 weeks consisting of some or all of the following: persistent symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection, purulent rhinorrhea, postnasal drainage, anosmia, nasal congestion, facial pain, headache, fever, cough, and purulent discharge.
• Subacute sinusitis: symptoms from four to eight weeks.
• Chronic sinusitis: symptoms for eight weeks or longer of varying severity consisting of the same symptoms as seen in acute sinusitis. In chronic s
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Contact: Natalie Lemke
nlemke@aaaai.org
414-272-6071
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
29-Nov-2005


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