Acute Bacterial Sinusitis in Children

Purpose and Objective: Update of 2001 recommendations for diagnosis and management of acute sinusitis in children between ages 1 and 18 years.

• Addition of diagnosis based on clinical presentation of worsening course

• Watchful-waiting option in those with persistent illness

• Imaging should not be used to diagnose acute bacterial sinusitis

Key Recommendations:

Diagnosis:

• Diagnosis of acute sinusitis can be made when a child with acute upper respiratory infection (URI) has persistent illness (>10 days), including nasal discharge of any quality and/or daytime cough, or worsening course of URI symptoms, or severe onset of fever with purulent nasal discharge lasting at least 3 days.

• Phy…