Özge BERBER, Ertap AKOĞLU
Çukurova Anestezi ve Cerrahi Bilimler Dergisi - 2026;9(2):241-245
Aim: Acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) is a common upper respiratory tract disorder characterized by inflammation of the nasal and paranasal sinus mucosa. Many factors play a significant role in its etiology, particularly viruses. The optimal treatment approach remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of various treatment methods on sinusitis symptoms in patients with ARS. Methods: Patients were divided into five groups: antibiotic therapy, intranasal steroid, nasal irrigation with isotonic saline, nasal irrigation with hypertonic saline, and a control group. Symptoms were assessed and compared using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and after treatment. All evaluations were performed by a physician blinded to the treatment groups. Results: The differences between pre - and post -treatment VAS scores were statistically significant within all treatment groups. However, the change in the control group was not significant. Furthermore, the post -treatment VAS scores of patients who received antibiotic therapy were significantly better than those of the other groups. Conclusion: In this study, all active treatment modalities significantly improved ARS symptoms compared with the control group. The antibiotic -treated group was associated with a greater reduction in VAS scores under the conditions of this study. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because bacterial etiology was not microbiologically confirmed. Antibiotic therapy may provide additional benefit in patients with a clinical presentation suggestive of bacterial ARS, whereas supportive treatments such as nasal steroids and saline irrigation can also provide meaningful symptom relief.
