Browse categories and answer follow-up questions to refine your symptom profile.
Red flags and immediate actions
Time-critical threats
Airway compromise
Stridor
Drooling
Trismus with inability to handle secretions
Orbital complications
Pain with extraocular movements
Ophthalmoplegia
Proptosis
Decreased visual acuity
Relative afferent pupillary defect
Intracranial complications
Altered mental status
Meningismus
New focal neurologic deficit
New seizure
Sepsis physiology
Hypotension
Persistent tachycardia
Escalation triggers
If orbital red flags, urgent CT orbits and sinuses with IV contrast
Same-day ophthalmology consultation
Same-day ENT consultation
If intracranial red flags, urgent CT head and sinuses with IV contrast or MRI brain with contrast when available
Same-day neurosurgery consultation if abscess concern
Same-day ENT consultation
If airway compromise, immediate airway team activation
Avoid delayed imaging over airway stabilization
Triage and severity stratification
Severity categories
Uncomplicated acute rhinosinusitis
No orbital findings
No neurologic findings
Hemodynamic stability
Suspected acute bacterial rhinosinusitis
Persistent symptoms beyond 10 days
Severe onset features
Worsening after initial improvement
Complicated rhinosinusitis
Orbital complication
Intracranial complication
Osteomyelitis concern
Key concepts
Syndrome framing
Acute rhinosinusitis duration less than 4 weeks
Viral most common
Bacterial minority
Bacterial likelihood signals
Persistent course
Severe onset
Double worsening
Antibiotics value
Greatest benefit when clinical bacterial criteria met
Limited benefit for early mild disease
SymptomDx is an educational tool for medical professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. Verify all clinical data and drug dosages with authoritative sources.