Snot colour ‘should not influence’ antibiotic prescribing for acute sinusitis in kids
A US study challenges the prevailing view that coloured discharge indicates bacterial infection.
GPs can finally stop asking about the colour of nasal discharge when treating kids with acute sinusitis, with results from a US cohort study confirming it has no impact on the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment.
While Australian and international sinusitis guidelines include purulent nasal discharge in diagnostic criteria, US paediatricians suggest it “should not influence therapeutic decisions”.
