Sinusitis and headache

The association of headache and sinusitis was studied in 207 patients who underwent surgery for chronic sinusitis that failed to respond to medical management. Sixty-nine percent of the patients had headaches and 31% did not. In 9% headache was the only symptom and the diagnosis of sinusitis was made on clinical and/or CT grounds. The pain was usually pressure in character, moderate in intensity and lasted for hours. Its location usually, but not always, pointed to the sinuses involved. Discreet sphenoid or ethmoid disease discovered on imaging may be responsible for midline pains. Sinusitis may also trigger or aggravate vascular headaches.