What is a common consequence of untreated bacterial sinusitis?

• A. Chronic headaches and vertigo
• B. Development of nasal polyps
• C. Spread of infection to nearby structures
• D. Increased resistance to antibiotics

Answer: (C)

Untreated bacterial sinusitis can extend beyond the sinuses because the surrounding structures are close and the bony walls can be thin or breached. The infection can spread to nearby areas such as the eye socket or the intracranial space, leading to serious complications like orbital cellulitis, meningitis, brain abscess, or osteomyelitis. These spread events are common enough to be a key danger of not treating the infection promptly. While chronic headaches or vertigo and the development of nasal polyps can occur with long-standing sinusitis, they aren’t the immediate consequences of an untreated acute infection. Antibiotic resistance isn’t a direct outcome for a single infection but a broader issue tied to antibiotic use in the population.