Symptoms, signs, and blood tests independently associated with a confirmed diagnosis of acute sinusitis*
| Symptom, sign, or blood test (number of studies investigating item) | Number of studies finding an association | +LR |
|---|---|---|
| *+LR = positive likelihood ratio; defined in glossary | ||
| Symptoms | ||
| Purulent rhinorrhoea (4) | 3 | 1.5, 1.5, 1.9 |
| Pain in teeth (4) | 2 | 2.1, 2.5 |
| Beginning with common cold (4) | 1 | 1.4 |
| Unilateral maxillary pain (4) | 1 | 1.8 |
| 2 phases in the illness history (1) | 1 | 2.1 |
| Lack of response to nasal decongestants (1) | 1 | 2.1 |
| Signs | ||
| Purulent secretion in nasal cavity (4) | 2 | 2.1, 5.5 |
| Pain at bending forward (4) | 1 | 1.6 |
| Transillumination of sinus (1) | 1 | 1.6 |
| Blood Tests | ||
| Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, >10 mm/h for males and >20 mm/h for females (2) | 2 | 1.7, 2.9 |
| Increased C-reactive protein, >10 mg/l (2) | 1 | 1.8 |