General Medical Information

Geriatric Sinusitis And Nasal Symptoms

Byron J. Bailey

Edelstein found that older patients are much more likely to consult physicians for nasal drainage, postnasal drip, gustatory rhinitis, and decreased olfactory ability. Nasal resistance was found to be increased as measured by rhinomanometry, but physical changes in the upper airway could only be found in the nasopharynx.
Upper respiratory infections tend to be underdiagnosed and inappropriately treated in all age groups. Self-diagnosis and treatment are common and usually involve ineffective nonprescription medication of various types. These infections account for a large proportion of the use of the health care system. Predisposing factors include previous nasal fractures, allergic rhinitis, viral upper respiratory infection, dehydration, foreign bodies, dental abscesses, nasal polyposis, use of nasal sprays, aspirin, and nasal intubation. Radiographic assessment and treatment are similar in all age groups. Complications related to chronicity may be more common in the elderly. The diminished capacity of the immune system is believed to be a factor in the increased frequency and severity of sinusitis in the geriatric age group.