NOTE: The authors evaluated acute sinusitis in pediatric patients. They derived a 5-item symptom score (S5 score) for describing the clinical severity of the acute sinusitis. This is described in Chapter 09.
Symptoms identified in patients with acute sinusitis:
(1) nasal obstruction
(2) coughing during the day
(3) coughing at night
(4) rhinorrhea
(5) irritability
(6) insomnia (and lack of sleep)
(7) nasal discharge (specified as colored nasal mucus)
(8) sneezing
(9) headache or facial pain
(10) decreased activity
(11) itchy eyes
(12) bad breath
(13) earache
Two additional symptoms I would like to add:
(14) fatigue or tiredness
(15) febrile response (fever > 101°F is listed in Table 1, but was not scored. The febrile response could include cloudy thinking, feeling bad, decreased appetite, etc. not covered by other symptoms)
|
Distress or Discomfort
|
Points
|
|
none
|
0
|
|
mild
|
1
|
|
moderate
|
2
|
|
severe
|
3
|
total score for distress and discomfort =
= SUM(points for all 15 items)
Interpretation:
• minimal total score: 0
• maximal total score: 45
• The higher the score the greater the patient's distress and discomfort and the greater the impact on the patient's quality of life.
