Concept and Etiology: Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinus cavities. As fluid accumulates,
pressure builds up in the sinus cavity and causes facial pain and headache which is one of the first
signs of sinusitis. Usually, the side of the face that hurts is the location of the sinus that is affected.
Sinusitis affects the upper respiratory system. This includes the nose, nasal cavity, mouth, throat,
and the larynx. All these areas are affected if the sinuses are not draining properly. The nose
becomes congested, the throat and larynx become sore from coughing and the nasal cavity is
inflamed. Sometimes sinusitis can become a bacterial infection because the build up from the sinus
cavity keeps the sinuses from draining and it becomes blocked. c This allows bacteria to grow and
progress to becoming a secondary bacterial infection. Sinusitis is often caused by environmental
irritants such as smoke, air pollutants, or hay fever. It can also be an issue for the
immunocompromised and for individuals with asthma and cystic fibrosis.
Classified: Sinusitis can be classified in several ways.
Acute sinusitis can last up to 4 weeks but is usually associated with a cold.
Subacute sinusitis which 4-8 weeks. If it lasts more than 8 weeks, it may be considered chronic.
Chronic sinusitis can last up to 12 weeks and the condition can continue for months or years. You
would have to have several episodes of acute sinusitis before it can be considered chronic.
Recurrent sinusitis is recognized as having 3 or more acute sinus infections in 1 year.
Clinical Manifestations: Signs and symptoms of rhinosinusitis are facial pain or pressure which
causes a headache, nasal congestion, coughing, mouth breathing, sore throat, fatigue, body aches,
bad breath, fever, loss of smell.
Diagnostic Tests: c A sinusitis diagnosis can be determined with a patient history and physical exam,
nasal culture, and sinus x-ray. Other diagnostic tests that can be performed are a sinus tomography
which is a CT scan of the nasal cavities and a sinus transillumination in which light is illuminated
against the sinuses. Both diagnostic tests can determine if the nasal cavities are inflamed or blocked.
Concept and Etiology: The influenza virus primarily attacks your respiratory tract: your nose, throat,
and the tubes that lead to your lungs. It is an acute viral infection of the upper or lower respiratory
tract. Influenza has been focused on in the past as a seasonal disease that is caused by the RNA
virus, generally spread via airborne droplets, which easily affect people during breathing and
swallowing, and which can become severe. The influenza virus is spherical and belongs to the family
Orthomyxoviridae. The influenza virus deviates from the definition of health discussed in Module
One, because the influenza virus is an acute contagious infection of the airways and lungs, so
influenza can affect a person’s health physically. c
Classification: Influenza is caused by any of several closely related viruses in the family
Orthomyxoviridae (a group of RNA viruses). Influenza viruses are categorized as types A, B, C, and D.
The A viruses cause the great influenza epidemics, and the B viruses cause smaller localized
outbreaks. The C viruses cause only mild respiratory illnesses in humans. Influenza D viruses are not
known to infect humans and have been observed only in pigs and cattle.
Clinical Manifestations (Symptoms and Signs): Flu signs and symptoms usually come on suddenly.
People who are sick with flu often feel some or all these symptoms:
Fever or feeling feverish/chills
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Muscle or body aches
Headaches
Fatigue (tiredness)
Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
Not everyone with the flu will have a fever.
Diagnostic Tests: Several tests are available to detect flu viruses in respiratory specimens. The most
common are called “rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs).” RIDTs work by detecting the parts of
the virus (antigens) that stimulate an immune response. These tests can provide results within
approximately 10-15 minutes but may not be as accurate as other flu tests. Even if the rapid test
came back negative, you can still have the flu. Other flu tests called “rapid molecular assays” detect
genetic material of the flu virus. Rapid molecular assays produce results in 15-20 minutes and are
more accurate than RIDTs. There are several more accurate flu tests available that must be
performed in specialized laboratories, such as those found in hospitals or public health laboratories.
These tests include reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), viral culture, and
immunofluorescence assays. c
References
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, October 7). Flu symptoms & diagnosis. Centres
for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/index.html.
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, September 14). Diagnosing flu. Centres for
Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/testing.htm.
Gopinath, S. C. B., Lakshmipriya, T., Hashim, U., Arshad, M. K. M., Ayub, R. M., & Adam, T. (2016,
August 5). Influenza viral infection in the respiratory system-potential ways of monitoring. The
Microbiology of Respiratory System Infections. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128045435000026.
Module 1 : Influenza - what is it and how do you get it? (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2021, from
https://www.who.int/diseasecontrol_emergencies/training/PI_M1_transmission_jan07.pdf?ua=1.
Story, L. (2018). Influenza. In Pathophysiology: A practical approach (pp. 134–136). Jones & Bartlett
Learning.
Mayo Clinic. (2021). Chronic Sinusitis. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-
sinusitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351661
Story, L. (2017). Pathophysiology: A Practical Approach (3rd Edition). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781284142983
Wenger, Dr. Mark. (2016). Recurrent Acute Sinusitis. Allergy Partners.
https://www.allergypartners.com/recurrent-acute-sinusitis-2/
