Primary sinusitis is a diagnosis of ________

• A. Exclusion
• B. Inclusion
• C. Necessity
• D. Confirmation

Answer: (A)

Primary sinusitis is diagnosed by excluding other conditions that can cause similar facial symptoms and nasal discharge. The signs overlap with viral infections, allergic rhinitis, dental infections, nasal polyps, trauma, tumors, and other issues, so you label it sinusitis only after ruling out these alternative causes. There isn’t a single definitive test that confirms it; the diagnosis rests on patient history and exam, with consideration of how long and how severe the symptoms have been. If another condition is identified as the underlying cause, it wouldn’t be termed primary sinusitis but secondary sinusitis instead.