Food groups that exacerbate Sinusitis among Saudi Patients

Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis is an extremely common health complaint which decreases productivity and quality of life. The objective of this study was to identify associations between specific food categories and aggravation of symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis. Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional questionnaire study. Patients provided details about the categories of food that they consumed, as well as symptoms related to sinusitis. The data was extracted onto a spreadsheet and analysed using chi-square testing. Results: A small percentage of patients (4%) associated food categories with exacerbations of sinus symptoms. Chocolate was the most common trigger, followed by white flour foods. Several patients (33%) were not aware of the association between food and sinus symptoms. Conclusion: Some food categories can exacerbate sinusitis in a specific population subset. Patients should be encouraged to maintain a food diary so that they can identify relevant triggers and these can be avoided in the future.