Infection
Acute rhinosinusitis
Antibiotic Therapy (before prescribing, carefully read the Notes / Comments section below)

Amoxicillin oral 1g 8 hourly for 5 days

or

Doxycycline oral 200mg stat, then 100mg once daily for 5 days

N.B. In pregnant patients, doxycycline is contraindicated. See here for an alternative option in penicillin allergic pregnant patients.

80% of cases resolve in 14 days without any antimicrobial treatment.

Patients with untreated bacterial disease rarely develop severe infection or complications

Notes / Comments
  • Acute rhinosinusitis is a viral infection associated with the common cold and resolves in 7 to 10 days; bacterial superinfection occurs in <2% of episodes.
  • Consider antibiotic treatment if a patient with an improving viral upper respiratory tract infection develops new symptoms of sinusitis and a fever, or if symptoms of sinusitis persist for 10 or more days without improvement.
  • Suspect orbital involvement if there is peri-orbital oedema, a displaced globe, double vision, ophthalmoplegia, or reduced visual acuity.
  • Suspect intracranial involvement or Pott's Puffy Tumour if there is a severe frontal headache, frontal swelling, symptoms or signs of meningitis, or focal neurological signs.

Investigations are not required in primary care. Nasal swabs for culture have poor diagnostic yield.

 

 

Guideline reviewed February 2025
Page updated April 2025



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