Fever and sinusitis

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Volume 47, Number 4, December 2009Article AbstractsOriginal ContributionsFever is not a symptom of chronic rhinosinusitis, 393-395W.J.M. Videler; A.W. van Tol; E. van Spronsen; W.J. Fokkens;Introduction: In the chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) definition of the RhinoSinusitis Task Force (RSTF) of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, fever is one of the minor symptoms. In the EP3OS definition, fever is not mentioned as a contributing factor. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the role of fever in CRS. Patients and methods: Patients with CRS, scheduled for surgery were compared with a control group consisting of patients without CRS, suffering from esthetic complaints or obstruction of the nose. Temperature prior to surgery was measured and analyzed. Results: In both groups, hundred patients were included. In the CRS group the mean tempera- ture was 36.94°C, with a maximum of 37.8°C. The control group revealed a mean temperature of 36.87°C. Analysis demonstrated no significant difference between the mean temperatures of the CRS patients and the controls (p = 0.306). Additional analysis, correcting for possible con- founders, did not reveal significant differences between both groups either. Discussion: There have been several attempts to define CRS in the past, but an all including definition or classification system for this disorder does not currently exist. Fever is a factor under discussion. We found no significant difference between the preoperative body tempera- ture in CRS patients and controls. These results suggest that fever is not a relevant symptom in CRS.