[Evaluation of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis in asthma patients based on clinical parameters and imaging studies, together with ear, nose and throat examination].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate paranasal sinuses in patients with stable or acute asthma in order to determine the prevalence of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study including 30 patients with acute asthma (73% females) treated in the emergency room and 30 patients with stable asthma (80% females) regularly monitored as outpatients. All patients completed a questionnaire on respiratory signs and symptoms and were submitted to ear, nose and throat (ENT) examination, as well as to X-ray and computed tomography (CT) imaging of the sinuses.


RESULTS
Based on the clinical diagnosis, the prevalence of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis was 40% in the patients with acute asthma and 3% in those with stable asthma. The ENT examination findings and the imaging findings in isolation were not useful to confirm the diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
In themselves, ENT examination findings, X-ray findings and CT findings were not useful for the diagnosis of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis. Our results provide further evidence that a clinical diagnosis of bacterial rhinosinusitis should be made with caution.
Faure
Alecsandra Calil Moises
AC
Departamento de Medicina, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
Santoro
Ilka Lopes
IL
Weckx
Luc Louis Maurice
LL
Lederman
Henrique Manoel
HM
Fernandes
Artur da Rocha Correa
Ada R
Fernandes
Ana Luisa Godoy
AL
D000208:Acute Disease; D001249:Asthma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004423:Ear / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010808:Physical Examination; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000592:standards