What symptom is less common (25%) in acute sinusitis patients?

Fever is considered a less common symptom in patients with acute sinusitis, occurring in approximately 25% of cases. While fever can accompany a variety of infections, its presence in sinusitis is not as frequent compared to other symptoms. This discrepancy can be attributed to the fact that many cases of acute sinusitis are viral in nature, which may not always elicit a significant febrile response.

In contrast, symptoms like headache, cough, and sore throat are more prevalent among patients with acute sinusitis. Headaches are particularly common due to pressure buildup in the sinuses. Cough may result from post-nasal drip, while a sore throat can occur due to irritation from mucus drainage. Understanding the relative frequency of these symptoms helps clinicians not only diagnose sinusitis more effectively but also differentiate it from other upper respiratory infections.