Abstract:Sinusitis is a common disease in otorhinolaryngology. In the general population, it often presents as a self-limiting condition or has a good prognosis after standard treatment. Although complications are uncommon, when they do occur, they may lead to severe sequelae or even life-threatening situations. For special populations—including children, the elderly, pregnant women, patients with diabetes mellitus, patients with malignant tumors, and immunocompromised individuals—the clinical presentation, disease course, and risk of complications differ significantly from those in the general population due to their unique physiological and pathological characteristics, metabolic status, or immune profiles. Therefore, the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for these groups must go beyond routine approaches and require highly individualized plans. This article focuses on the aforementioned special populations and systematically reviews the pathophysiological features, diagnostic difficulties, and treatment strategies for complications of sinusitis in these groups. Special emphasis is placed on the latest advances in individualized treatment regimens and the effectiveness of preventive measures. By integrating multidisciplinary research findings, this article aims to provide clinicians with scientific and precise diagnostic and therapeutic guidance, thereby improving the management of sinusitis complications in special populations, and reducing their incidence, mortality, and disability rates.