Rhinosinusitis J00, J01; J32.-; J31.-

Rhinosinusitis is a synchronous inflammation of the nasal mucosa ("rhinitis") and the mucosa of the paranasal sinuses ("sinusitis").

A distinction is made between:

• Acute rhinosinusitis with symptoms lasting up to 12 weeks and < 4 episodes per year
• recurrent acute rhinosinusitis with >4 episodes per year with complete recovery of symptoms
• chronic rhinosinusitis of > 12 weeks of persistent symptoms or >4 episodes per year with residual symptoms

Sinusitis is regularly preceded by an inflammation of the nasal mucosa. It has been suggested (guideline rhinosinusitis of the DGHNO) to replace the term "sinusitis" by "rhinosinusitis" in principle, since the mucosa of the paranasal sinuses and the nose form a functional unit.

1. AWMF Guideline "Rhinosinusitis". http://www.awmf.org/leitlinien/detail/ll/017-049.html