What Is Sinusitis In Children?

Sinusitis in children is a common childhood illness, which may be even more prevalent in children with child allergies. Sinusitis often goes untreated for a time because it may be masked by other conditions and illnesses which affect the sinuses and sinus cavities.

Sinusitis Defined

Sinusitis in children is what is commonly referred to as a sinus infection. Sinusitis in children is the inflammation of the sinuses—the moist air cavities in between the facial bones surrounding the nose. These cavities are lined with mucus membranes the same as the mouth and nose. The inflammation is the result of infection in trapped mucus in the sinus cavities.

What Causes Sinusitis In Children?

Normally functioning, normally draining sinuses do not usually succumb to the infections that cause sinusitis in children. In most cases, there needs to be a primary condition that causes sinuses to be blocked.

Anything that causes increased mucus production has the potential to lead to sinusitis. The catalyst may be a cold or allergy. A typical scenario for a child suffering from child allergies is as follows:

• Child allergies cause the nasal passages to swell
• Nasal passages begin to produce large amounts of mucus
• The sinus tissues take the lead of the nasal passages and also increase mucus production
• Excessive amounts of mucus cannot be properly drained, and/or dry, crusted mucus blocks drainage points from the sinuses
• Trapped mucus in the sinuses creates a prime environment for the growth of bacteria, fungi, and viruses
• Pathogens proliferate and result in a sinus infection with sinus inflammation—sinusitis

Sometimes, acute sinusitis in children (one-time infection as described above) becomes chronic sinusitis in children and a virtually constant sinus infection is present. When symptoms of sinusitis are very long lasting (as in, infection seems to recur frequently or last for three months or more), it is wise to discuss the possibility of sinusitis in children with the child’s primary care physician.

What Are The Symptoms Of Sinusitis In Children?

Sinusitis in children can be difficult to diagnose unless close attention has been paid to the child’s sinus symptoms. Sinusitis is also difficult to diagnose in children because many symptoms are the same as those for nasal allergies and the common cold.

Symptoms of sinusitis in children include:

• Cold-like symptoms
• Stuffy nose
• Thick, yellow-green mucus/nasal discharge
• Runny nose
• Fever (usually low grade in young children and higher in kids over 6 or 7)
• Dry, daytime cough lasting longer than 1 week
• Congestion
• Jaw pain
• Ear pain
• Tenderness in the face

Headaches are not usually a sign of sinusitis in young children since the sinus cavities in the forehead do not develop until late in childhood. Sinus headache may be a symptom in teenagers, as well as stomach upset/nausea, and pain in back of the eyes.

What Can Help Prevent And Relieve Sinusitis In Children?

Once bacterial sinusitis sets in, it often takes a course of oral antibiotics to clear it. Chronic sinusitis in children requires a longer-lasting and more potent treatment with antibiotics, which is important so that the sinuses do not become damaged permanently. Oral antibiotics cannot help a viral case of sinusitis in children, so the infection will have to be left to run its course and management will focus on relief of the symptoms of sinusitis in children.

Symptom relief makes life more manageable for children with viral sinusitis, and is also helpful for children with bacterial sinusitis.

• Oral decongestants help clear excess mucus from the sinuses
• Humidifiers soften mucus so they can clear faster
• Frequent, gentle nose-blowing keeps mucus moving
• Good hydration keeps sinuses soft and flowing
• Child-strength pain relievers minimize discomfort of sinus pain and fever
• Warm compresses relieve sinus pressure and pain

Clear sinuses are the key to preventing sinusitis in children. For children with allergies, prevention of sinusitis in children means avoiding known nasal allergy triggers and taking steps to clear congestion to the extent possible.

Good allergy management greatly reduces the precipitating conditions that lead to sinusitis in children. Sinusitis in children is another good reason to get children’s allergy symptoms under control.

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