The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Trends of Complicated Sinusitis in Western Australia

Abstract

The possible association between COVID-19 and the development of complicated sinusitis in paediatric populations was noted during the COVID-19 pandemic, but understanding of this disease process is still developing. In Perth, Western Australia, a distinctive state of isolation, vaccination status and thorough screening methodology led to a unique experience of the pandemic. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 129 patients admitted to Perth Children’s Hospital from May 2018 to September 2024. Disease factors were studied, including clinical severity, procedure, COVID status, length of stay and inflammatory markers. A surge in patients was noted during the COVID-19 pandemic, with at least 16 having a concurrent diagnosis of COVID-19 at the time of admission. The study demonstrates that whilst COVID-19 infection was associated with the development of complicated sinusitis, it was not associated with increased severity of disease or an increased likelihood of requiring surgical management. A unique subset of patients emerged with unusual presentations, possibly representing a new disease process of suppurative dacryoadenitis.

Keywords

• complicated sinusitis
• Chandler classification
• Pott’s puffy tumour
• COVID-19
• coronavirus
• dacryoadenitis