Abstract

Background: Infections of paranasal sinuses involve the mucus membrane of maxillary, ethmoid, frontal or sphenoidal sinuses, which frequently coexist. They can be acute, sub-acute and chronic, based on the duration of symptoms, and may occur usually due to viral or bacterial infections and very rarely fungal infection. Sinusitis is of particular concern because of the anatomical proximity, which may lead to various sequelae and complications involving the brain and the orbit. Aims &
Objective: To determine the drug prescribing pattern in paranasal sinusitis and to assess the efficacy and tolerability of antimicrobials used in paranasal sinusitis.
Materials and Methods: 50 subjects of either gender were included in the study to assess the pattern of drugs prescribed; details of drug therapy, therapeutic class of antimicrobial agents, dose, route, frequency, duration of administration, and tolerability of antimicrobials used were recorded.
Results: Out of 50 study subjects 42 % were male and 58% were female. All the subjects had multiple symptoms with mean duration of the symptoms for 8.06±3.59 days. Only 14 subjects had used the antimicrobials for the previous episodes and data was not available in 36 subjects. 72% had acute bacterial sinusitis. 96% subjects received the antimicrobials from beta-lactam group, Co-amoxiclav was the commonly prescribed antimicrobial agent. The concomitant medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and decongestants used in the present study. All the subjects showed significant clinical improvement with mild and selflimiting adverse effects. Conclusion: Acute, recurrent and chronic bacterial paranasal sinusitis can be effectively treated by empirical use of various antimicrobials. Co-amoxiclav can be considered as the mainstay /primary option because of the proven efficacy, good tolerability and low cost.