Background. Acute sinusitis (AS) is one of the most common diseases that determines a high incidence of visits to otolaryngologists. Empirical diagnostics of sinusitis does not allow to judge with sufficient reliability the presence or absence of this disease in a patient with acute respiratory infection. This circumstance determines the high frequency of erroneous diagnoses of AS in general medical practice, irrational antibiotic therapy. The article analyzes literature data on the diagnosis of AS and the potentials for the use of topical antimicrobial therapy of this disease. The data sources include MEDLINE, EMBAS, PubMed with subsequent systematization of the material according to the degree of its compliance with the information request.
Conclusion. Differential diagnostics of acute bacterial and acute viral sinusitis is one of the most important factors determining the treatment of such patients, in particular the decision on the use of antibacterial drugs with proven efficacy against etiologically significant pathogens and regional patterns of their resistance to antibiotics. The use of topical antibacterial drugs in these cases allows to increase the local concentration of drugs in the inflammation site, minimizing side effects. The domestic drug hydroxymethylquinoxaline dioxide has certain advantages in these situations, the use of which in standard treatment regimens for acute tonsillopharyngitis and acute bacterial sinusitis is of great importance in terms of controlling the infectious process and prognosis of the disease.

Keywords: hydroxymethylquinoxaline dioxide, topical antibacterial drugs, «cold», acute sinusitis