[Acute rhinosinusitis in the adult: national survey of general practice management].

Between the 17/1/2000 and the 31/3/2000 a study was carried out in 5000 general practitioners in the management of patients with acute maxillary sinusitis. The general practitioners filled out a questionnaire in 2 parts: the first part about their management (diagnosis-treatment) and the second part included 1 case study. According to the results of the first part, acute maxillary sinusitis occurred frequently during the winter months adding further complications. The second part of the study confirmed the finding of the first part. Analysis of case study demonstrates that this pathology affected men at the median age 37.6. The incidence of bilateral sinusitis is (61.4%) maxillary (61.1%), frontal (31.7%), ethmoidomaxillary (9.4%) or sphenoidal (1.7%). One quarter of patients participated in further medical investigations that included regular X rays of sinus and 14% patients in anterior rhinoscopy. In the older patients, on the patients with unilateral sinusitis, or sphenoidal sinusitis, the investigations were more frequent and these patients appealed for the specialist frequently (Ear Nose and Throat specialist mainly). The first line of treatment included 3.2 products of which antibiotics 98.5%, vasoconstrictors 55%, anti-inflammatory 55% (corticosteroids 46.8%, non corticosteroids 8.7%), mucolytics 41.6%. In total, general practitioners confirmed their pragmatic management in the treatment of acute sinusitis based on clinical diagnosis.