Sinus Infection? This clinical vignette is brought to you by Cirrus Medical Network, LLC (CirrusMED), "Your Doctor. Online", the premier online concierge primary care network.
Do you have any of the following?
- Sinus Pressure
- Headache
- Ear Pressure
- Green /Yellow Mucus Discharge or Sputum
- Nasal Congestion
- Sore or Irritated Throat
- Fever
History of the following?
- Previous Sinus Infection
- Allergies (Seasonal or other)
- Sinus Surgery
- Recent Upper Respiratory Infection (URI)
Perhaps you have tried the following?
- Over the counter (OTC) medications
- Sudafed (pseudophedrine)
- Mucinex (guafenesin)
- Allergy Medications (claritin, allegra, zyrtec)
- Pain Relievers (Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen, Tylenol)
- Saline Rinse (Neti Pot, Simply Saline, Ocean Spray)
- Other home remedies
What do you do next?
- How long have you had symptoms?
- > 10 days, consider antibiotics
- Feel like you’ve tried everything?
- Can’t concentrate, feel like head in the clouds?
- Responded well to antibiotics in the past?
- At your wits end?
Contact your CirrusMED physician
- Send a secure message through the portal
- Set up a virtual visit
- VIP Members -- send a text or call your doctor directly
Provide the following information:
- Onset of symptoms or Duration (i.e. 2 wks)
- Location (i.e. teeth, eyes, forehead, ears)
- Quality of symptoms (i.e. pressure,throbbing)
- Other symptoms?(i.e. fever, cough, sore throat, rash, eye drainage, etc.)
- What therapy have you tried? (OTC’s, saline, allergy meds, etc.)
- Vital Signs (Temperature, Heart Rate, Blood Pressure)
- If any shortness of breath or cough, a pulse oximeter reading is helpful
- Video Conferencing may be necessary if sore throat to exam virtually
Treatment Options
- Continue current course and give it more time
- Antibiotics (5-21 days) depending on your case (please make sure your doctor is aware of any medicine allergies; also if you have been on antibiotics for sinusitis in past)
- Steroid Nasal Spray (Nasocort, Flonase, etc.) - can be helpful when underlying allergies and/or to reduce inflammation and swelling of nasal passages
- Oral steroid (prednisone) - used for severe cases and when underlying allergies
- Referral to ENT - for severe or persistent cases
- Surgery is usually last resort.
Sinus infections (Sinusitis) can be managed online by your CirrusMED physician via secure messaging, video conferencing, chat, text, and/or phone.
Need an online doctor?