Escalate urgently if…
The workflow highlights red flag symptoms once you reach the complication screen.
Open the NEWS2 calculator before signposting to emergency care.
Pharmacy First | Adults and young people ≥12 years
Acute Sinusitis
Evidence-based pathway for ≥12 years across Community pharmacy, urgent care, primary care. Tap start to capture history, otoscopy, risk cues, and shared decision status.
≥12 years Community pharmacy, urgent care, primary care
- Distinguishes viral vs bacterial sinusitis (duration, deterioration, purulence, unilateral pain)
- Supports high-dose intranasal steroid first-line with escalation to antibiotics when needed
- Includes PGD dosing for phenoxymethylpenicillin, clarithromycin/doxycycline, and erythromycin in pregnancy
What you'll capture
- Age + symptom duration
- Otoscopy appearance and drainage
- Systemic severity and bilateral disease cues
- Risk modifiers (immunosuppression, prematurity, allergy)
- Shared decision plan (immediate vs back-up antibiotics)
Before you begin
- Have otoscopy findings or images ready.
- Confirm allergy history and temperature.
- Document analgesia given and pain score.
- Be prepared to discuss home care (warm compresses, upright feeds, smoke avoidance).