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Referral criteria from primary care - sinusitis

Authoring team

Red flag signs in acute rhinosinusitis warranting urgent ENT referral include:

  • frontal swelling
  • severe frontal headache (worse than patient has experienced before)
  • neurological signs
  • signs of meningitis on clinical examination
  • reduced level of consciousness
  • reduced visual acuity
  • double vision (diplopia)
  • periorbital oedema/erythema (cellulitis)
  • displaced globe
  • opthalmoplegia.

Reference:

  1. Foden N, Burgess C, Shepherd K, Almeyda R. A guide to the management of acute rhinosinusitis in primary care management strategy based on best evidence and recent European guidelines. The British Journal of General Practice. 2013;63(616):611-613.

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