Symptomatology and Bacteriology Correlated to Radiological Findings in Acute Maxillary Sinusitis

Abstract

The symptoms of acute maxillary sinusitis were analysed and correlated to the radiological and bacteriological findings before treatment. The material was divided into radiologically completely and not completely opaque sinuses. The occurrence of purulent nasal discharge was larger in the former group. Otherwise the symptoms were similar in both groups. Secretion without bacterial growth or with pneumococci was most common in the not completely opaque sinuses. In general, all other bacteria were more common in completely opaque sinuses. Further, an analysis was made of the radiological healing in relation to the bacterial findings. Diseased sinuses with pneumococci demonstrated a more favourable healing than sinuses with Haemophilus influenzae or with sterile secretions. The latter finding emphasizes the importance of the function of the sinus ostium. This was also supported by the finding that in sinuses with pneumococci the addition of high doses of penicillin perorally to treatment with irrigation did not give better improvement than irrigation only.