Rhinosinusitis: Clinical Features Seen In Sagamu, Nigeria

Abstract

A retrospective evaluation of the clinical features of rhinosinusitis seen in Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu Nigeria over a five-year period between January 2002 and December 2006. 131 cases of rhinosinusitis were analysed with M: F=1:1.05. The mean age was 36.7years. The three major presenting symptoms were mucoid nasal discharge 90(68.7%), nasal obstruction/congestion 80 (61.1%) and excessive sneezing 61(46.6%). 75.6% of the patients presented after three months of onset of symptoms. Oedematous nasal mucosa 94 (71.8%), engorged nasal turbinates 93(71.0%), mucopurulent anterior rhinorrhoea 37(28.2%) and polypoidal nasal growth 21(16.0%) were the common nasal examination findings. 69.5% of the patients had abnormalities on plain X-rays, most of which were in the maxillary sinuses. 27.5% of the patients had other associated nasal diseases or complications while the two common individual nasal diseases diagnosed were allergic rhinosinusitis (40.5%) and infective rhinosinusitis (29.8%). Better health education of our patients and need for early specialist referrals were emphasized.