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How does your GP diagnose CRS?

Your general/family doctor or GP will do several things to figure out if you have CRS:

  1. Ask about your symptoms: The doctor will talk to you to understand how you’re feeling and what problems you’re having.
  2. Look inside your nose: They’ll use a special tool to check the front part of your nose. This is called an anterior rhinoscopy. It helps them see if the thin layer of tissue inside your nose (called the lining) is swollen, irritated, or damaged. They will also check for growths, like nasal polyps.
  1. Check airflow with a mirror test: The doctor might hold a small mirror under your nostrils and evaluate the condensation of warm expired air on the cold mirror as a means of evaluating the nasal flow.
  1. Checking for allergies: If allergies might be causing your symptoms, your GP may perform a skin prick test or recommend blood testing, depending on availability.

If your GP thinks you need further evaluation, they may refer you to a specialist. In most cases, a GP will treat you for CRS on the basis of your symptoms.

How does a specialist diagnose CRS?

Specialists, like ear-nose-throat (ENT) doctors, may perform more advanced tests to confirm your diagnosis and find out what’s causing your symptoms. They might also repeat some tests already done by your GP, such as:

  1. Mirror test: To check the flow of expired air from each nostril (see above).
  2. Anterior rhinoscopy: To closely examine the front part of your nasal cavity for swelling, mucus/secretions, or structures. (see above)
  3. Evaluate nasal secretions: If you have a runny nose or thick fluid, the doctor might take a look at your throat to see if it runs down your throat.
  1. Checking for allergies: If allergies might be causing your symptoms, your doctor may perform a skin prick test or recommend blood testing. Some GPs also perform these tests, but not all GP clinics offer them.

In addition to these, specialists may also perform:

  1. Nasal endoscopy: Your doctor uses a thin camera to examine the inside of your nose and sinuses.
  1. Acoustic rhinometry: This test uses sound waves to measure the size and shape of your nasal passages.
  1. Anterior rhinomanometry: This checks how much air is flowing through your nose and how hard it is to breathe.
  • PNIF: This test measures how fast you can blow out air through your nose.
  1. Taste and smell tests: For smell tests, the doctor might ask you to identify different scents using tools like Sniffin’ Sticks or other smell tests. Taste tests check how well you can recognize sweet, salty, sour, and bitter flavours.

When is a CT scan considered?

If the endoscopy or other tests do not explain your symptoms, or if your ENT specialist is considering surgery, they may order a CT scan to get a detailed picture of your sinuses.

Your healthcare provider may recommend a CT scan if:

  • To exclude CRS as a cause of your headache
  • To understand the anatomy of your nose and sinuses before surgery
  • Understand the differences between the findings of the specialist and your symptoms

A CT scan provides a clear, detailed image of your sinuses. It shows how severe the sinus problem is. It can also reveal the exact location of abnormal tissue. This can tell your doctor how close the problem is to important parts of your head, like your eyes or brain. If you need surgery, the scan helps your doctor plan the procedure by showing the exact structure and layout of your sinuses.

Disclaimer

This website does not provide medical advice.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. EUFOREA is not a medical organisation and cannot provide specific medical advice to patients via the Internet and/or E-mail. All patients are encouraged to direct their specific questions to their personal physicians. EUFOREA presents this information to patients so that patients can understand and participate in their own medical care. EUFOREA strongly emphasises that the information contained on this website is not a substitute for thorough evaluation and treatment by a qualified healthcare provider.

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