A medical history provides your health professional with many
important clues for the diagnosis of your condition. To help diagnose
sinusitis, your health professional may ask you the
following questions:
About your symptoms:
- What are your symptoms like? What are your main
symptoms?
- Are you experiencing any facial pain? If so, how long
does it last? How intense is the pain, and where does it occur? Is it worse
when bending forward?
- Do you have nasal congestion? How long have
you been congested?
- Do you have any nasal discharge, either from
your nose or down the back of your throat? Thick, discolored (green or yellow)
discharge is common with acute sinusitis; clear or watery discharge is more
commonly associated with
allergies.
- Have you had a
fever?
- Are you experiencing any visual changes, such as double
vision, changes in visual acuity, or painful eye movement? These may be signs
that complications related to sinusitis are developing.
- How long
have you had these symptoms?
About your past medical conditions and treatments:
- How often do you have sinusitis symptoms, and
how long do your symptoms last?
- Have you had any recent viral
infections (colds or influenza) that involved the upper respiratory
tract?
- Do you have other medical conditions that may increase your
risk of developing sinusitis, such as allergies,
rhinitis, or
asthma?
- What medicines, including
nonprescription medications, are you taking now? Do they relieve your
symptoms?
Try to be as specific as possible about how long you have had
symptoms and where the pain is located.
Your health professional may also ask questions to help learn whether
you have been exposed to irritants that may increase your risk of developing
sinusitis or make an existing sinus infection worse. For example, smoke
irritates inflamed membranes in your nose and sinuses.
- Do you or does anyone in your household
smoke?
- Do you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove?
