| Factor | Factor absent | Factor present |
| Nasal drainage | None | Colored nasal drainage |
| Productive cough | None | Productive cough with yellow sputum |
| Sinus symptoms | None | Complains of sinus pressure and pain |
| Duration of illness | 3-5 days | 14 days |
| Severity of illness | Feels only moderately ill | Feels illness so severe that treatment is needed |
| Temperature | 99F | 101.5F |
| Expects antibiotics | No specific expectations about treatment | Has come specifically to get antibiotic treatment |
| Pending trip | No trips scheduled | Leaving on vacation soon, worries about illness getting worse |
| Prior antibiotics | No prior antibiotics for this sort of illness | Was previously given antibiotics for similar illness and had good results |