Flu, rhinitis or sinusitis? Learn the real difference with Dr. Kalil

Flu, cold, rhinitis and sinusitis are conditions that often generate confusion among patients. To clarify the differences between these diseases, the pulmonologist and professor at Unifesp, Clystenes Odyr Soares Silva, and the infectologist and professor at Unifesp, Nancy Bellei, were interviewed by Dr. Kalil on Sinais Vitais, which will be shown this Saturday (6), comparing the characteristics of each clinical condition and the care needed in each case.

The flu and its historical impact
The flu, caused by the influenza virus, is considered one of the most impactful respiratory diseases in history. "The Spanish flu killed 40 million people", highlighted Clystenes. Then came the Asian flu and the swine flu, which reinforce the relevance and existence of viruses over time.

Currently, it is estimated that 10% of humanity contracts influenza every year, with a death toll ranging between 250,000 and 600,000 annually. Clystenes highlighted that the flu is essentially a febrile illness: "Whoever has the flu has a fever, and it's a real fever, 38.5 or 39 degrees", as well as muscle pain, joint pain, malaise and headache - symptoms that lead the patient to be "in bed".

Rhinitis: an allergic, non-infectious condition
Unlike the flu and cold, rhinitis is not caused by viruses. It is an allergic condition, very common in people with respiratory allergies.

The specialist observed, with humor, that "the best meteorological service is the nose of someone who has rhinitis", as symptoms such as sneezing and nasal congestion usually appear even before a change in the weather. As it is of allergic origin, rhinitis does not require treatment with antibiotics.

Sinusitis: when the virus complicates
Sinusitis, also called rhinosinusitis, generally has a viral onset. The process occurs when there is obstruction of the small channels that connect the nose to the sinuses, causing an accumulation of secretion, congestion and pain.

According to Clystenes, otorhinolaryngology specialists warn that antibiotics should not be administered for sinusitis before symptoms persist for 8 to 10 days. In early cases, basic treatment includes decongestants and washing the airways.

When sinusitis becomes more complicated, more intense symptoms appear, such as pain when lowering the head and greenish or purulent discharge, which may indicate a bacterial infection. In these cases, the use of antibiotics may be considered.

Clystenes warned that the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in viral diseases brings no benefit and contributes to one of the biggest challenges of modern medicine: the resistance of germs to antibiotics.

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Source: CNN