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 evaluation of 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 the GP thinks further evaluation is needed, 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 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 drops 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. Sometimes these test are also done by GPs, but are not available at all GP clinics.

In addition to these, specialists may also perform:

  1. Nasal endoscopy: A thin camera is used to look deep inside 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 don’t explain your symptoms, or if surgery is being considered, the ENT specialist might order a CT scan to get a detailed picture of your sinuses.

A CT scan might be recommended:

  • To exclude CRS as a cause of your headache
  • To understand the anatomy of your nose and sinuses before surgery
  • Understand 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 surgery is needed, the scan also helps the doctor plan by showing the exact structure and layout of your sinuses.

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