We examined the influence of otolaryngological treatments, such as the expiratory puncture and irrigation of the maxillary sinus by needle (Schmidt method), nebulizer and the Proetz method, on the treatment period of acute sinusitis. The subjects were 189 patients with unilateral acute sinusitis, who were treated at Yokohama Rosai Hospital from January 2001 to December 2003. The point at which a cure was achieved was defined as the day when symptoms resolved and the nasal findings and X-ray

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... ings, and the treatment period was defined as the interval between the first examination and the resolution of the disease. The following factors were investigated:(1) age (<20 years old, twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, sixties, and 70 years old); (2) duration of illness (3 days or less, 5 days or less, 7 days or less, 10 days or less, 14 days or less, 30 days or less, and 70 days or less,); (3) the presence of concomitant allergic rhinitis (+or-); and (4) otolaryngological treatments (nebulizer, Proetz method, Schmidt method, or no procedure; (5) antibiotics (macrolides, penicillin, new quinolone, cephems, or no antibiotics). The influence of these factors on the treatment period was investigated by multivariate analysis using Stat Partner for Windows Ver. 4.5 (NEC Software Company). The factors that showed a significant influence on the treatment period were age, antibiotics, otolaryngological treatment and the duration of the illness. The Proetz method and use of a nebulizer extended the treatment period in patients less than 20 years old and patients in their sixties. On the other hand, the Schmidt method extended the treatment period as the duration of the illness was extended. From these data, we considered that the Schmidt method was useful in the younger patient population.