Differential Diagnosis for Facial Pressure, Dental Pain, Frontal Headache, Sore Throat, Coughing, and Hoarseness
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Sinusitis: This condition is the most likely diagnosis given the combination of symptoms such as facial pressure, frontal headache, and coughing. Sinusitis, especially maxillary sinusitis, can cause dental pain due to the proximity of the sinuses to the teeth. Sore throat and hoarseness can occur due to postnasal drip.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI): Symptoms like sore throat, coughing, and hoarseness are common in URTIs. Facial pressure and headache can also be present, especially if the infection involves the sinuses.
- Tonsillitis: This condition can cause sore throat and hoarseness. If the infection spreads or if there is significant lymph node swelling, it could contribute to facial pressure and headache.
- Dental Abscess or Infection: A dental infection can cause severe dental pain and could potentially lead to facial pressure and headache if the infection spreads. Sore throat could be a referred pain.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Meningitis: Although less likely, meningitis is a critical diagnosis that must not be missed. It can present with headache, fever, and sometimes facial pain if there is involvement of the cranial nerves. Early recognition is crucial for effective treatment.
- Ludwig's Angina: This is a severe infection of the tissues in the neck, which can cause sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and potentially life-threatening airway obstruction. It's essential to consider this diagnosis, especially if there are signs of severe infection or airway compromise.
- Temporal Arteritis: This condition can cause headache and facial pain, especially in older adults. While less likely to cause all the listed symptoms, it's a diagnosis that should not be missed due to the risk of vision loss if not treated promptly.
Rare Diagnoses
- Wegener's Granulomatosis (Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis): This rare autoimmune disorder can cause a wide range of symptoms, including sinusitis, sore throat, and cough. It's a diagnosis to consider if the patient does not respond to typical treatments for sinusitis or URTI and has other systemic symptoms.
- Sarcoidosis: This condition can affect multiple parts of the body, including the lungs, skin, and sinuses. It could potentially cause some of the listed symptoms, especially if there is pulmonary or sinus involvement.
- Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Although rare, nasopharyngeal cancer can cause symptoms like sore throat, hoarseness, and facial pain due to the tumor's location and potential to invade surrounding structures.