Acute rhinosinusitis is one of the most common diseases in the world, characterized by acute inflammatory processes in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, lasting less than 4 weeks. According to statistics, in Russia, this disease is recorded in 6–15% of the population annually, in European countries in every seventh person, while there is a tendency to an increase in the incidence. Acute viral rhinosinusitis has the highest incidence among all rhinosinusitis and occurs in most patients in a mild form, however, untimely treatment of inflammation of the nasal mucosa can lead to obstruction of the natural anastomoses, impaired physiological ventilation and drainage of the paranasal sinuses, stagnation of secretions with further development acute bacterial rhinosinusitis. The overuse of local vasoconstrictor drugs (intranasal decongestants) leads to the development of drug-induced rhinitis, long-term imbalance of autonomic innervation of the nasal mucosa and edema, called "rebound syndrome". In the article we consider the issues of etiology, pathogenesis, features of the course of rhinosinusitis. The principles of differential diagnosis of viral and bacterial rhinosinusitis are stated, taking into account the latest recommendations and research in this area. The features of the use of the most frequently used topical preparations in acute rhinosinusitis in the practice of an ENT doctor have been analyzed.