Trends of sinusitis in Ibadan, Nigeria

Sinusitis occurs frequently, complications are infrequent since the introduction of antibiotics and mortality has also decreased significantly for same reason. A retrospective study of 90 patients with sinusitis seen over a 10 year period between 1988 and 1997 in the E. N. T. Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan was done to highlight the general direction and tendency of sinusitis in our environment. There were 50 (56%) males and 40 (44%) females. The average age was 33 years and 70% were under the age 40 years, showed that sinusitis affects mostly children and young adults. 38% in social class V while 10% social Class I. Chronic sinusitis was 93%, acute sinusitis 7% (both types unisinusitis 56%, pansinusitis 29%, multisinusitis 16%). All the cases of unisinusitis were maxillary sinusitis. 85 (94%) had surgical treatment (antrostomy 64%, Fronto ethmoi-dectomy 15%, Caldwell-Luc's 13%, antral lavage 13%). 80 (94%) patients are alive and well after 2 years of follow up, 5 (6%) lost to follow up. Complications arising from sinusitis was seen affecting the orbit in 41%--the largest, followed by sinus wall 32%, no ear complications seen. Thirteen (14%) of the sinusitis cases associated with allergy only, 24 (27%) with polyps only, 6 (1%) with both allergy and polyps. It stresses the interwoveness of these entities (allergy, Polyps, sinusitis)--one predisposes to the other. Thus with these trends of sinusitis being highlighted, it is hoped that this would enhance our knowledge of the pathology, diagnosis and treatment of sinusitis.