Sinusitis assessment online
Blocked nose, discharge or facial pressure? Get the pattern reviewed online. Quinn checks for eye involvement or severe illness first. A clinician may prescribe a steroid nasal spray for symptom relief, including for likely viral sinusitis, and considers antibiotics only when the history meets the bacterial criteria.
- No appointment or video call
- NZ clinician reviewed
- Pay only if approved
What to expect
Talk to Quinn, our AI assistant. A NZ clinician reviews your history and decides your care.
- For a suitable episode, a clinician may prescribe a steroid nasal spray for symptom relief
- Antibiotics may be prescribed when the history meets the bacterial-indication criteria
- Eye symptoms, severe illness, long-lasting symptoms or another likely cause needs in-person review
Is this service right for me?
Start an online assessment if…
- The symptoms follow a straightforward acute sinus pattern that may benefit from nasal treatment
- There is no eye involvement, severe illness or long-running recurrent problem
Use another service first if…
- Eye pain or swelling, vision change, shaking chills or severe illness
- A severe one-sided pattern, stiff neck, severe headache or chronic or recurrent symptoms
When to get care sooner
Some symptoms need urgent or in-person care.
See a doctor today if you…
- become severely unwell, including fever with worsening facial pain or purulent discharge
- have severe or one-sided facial or eye pain
- have eye swelling or a vision change
- have a stiff neck
- have a severe headache
About sinus symptoms
Sinusitis is swelling and irritation around your nose and sinuses, often starting after a cold. It causes a blocked nose, discharge and facial pressure, and in most people it's caused by a virus rather than bacteria.
- Blocked nose or discharge with facial pressure or reduced smell
- Symptoms following a cold, sometimes worsening again after initial improvement
How your online consultation works
No appointment or video call to book. See the current clinician review time before you start.
- Tell QuinnDescribe your concern in your own words. Quinn, our AI assistant, gathers the information for your clinician.
- Clinician reviewA registered NZ clinician reviews your history and decides your care. They may ask for more detail.
- Receive your careApproved documents are saved in My care. Any prescription goes to your chosen pharmacy.
Keep your usual GP. You choose whether to share your approved consultation summary with your usual practice.
What we’ll ask about
Answer naturally. Quinn follows up on what matters to your situation, using these topics for the assessment.
- Nasal blockage or discharge, facial pressure, smell, headache and duration
- Eye pain or swelling, vision change, shaking chills or severe illness
- Worsening after improvement, recurrence, immune health, pregnancy, medicine allergies and treatments tried
Frequently asked questions
Can treatment help if my sinusitis is viral?
Yes. A clinician may prescribe a steroid nasal spray for symptom relief when it is suitable, even when antibiotics are not indicated.
Will I be given antibiotics?
Only if your history suggests they will genuinely help. Most sinus infections are viral and settle without them, the clinician decides from your pattern.
Why does sinusitis sometimes get worse after it seems to be improving?
A second wave of worsening after initial improvement is one thing a clinician looks for. It helps decide whether antibiotics might help this time.
Can I get sinusitis without having had a cold first?
It's less typical. Sinusitis usually follows a viral upper airway illness like a cold, though other patterns can occur and may need a closer look.
Does sinusitis keep coming back for some people?
Yes, some people get repeated episodes. Even with a recurring pattern, this episode is still treated on its own merits. A referral for a closer look can run alongside that, rather than waiting.
Fees and practical details
Your consultation fee is shown before submission. Your card is charged only if care is approved; medicine and pharmacy costs are separate.