Can Children Suffer from Sinus Infections?

 

Can Children Suffer from Sinus Infections?
Your child’s sinuses are not fully developed until age 20. However, kids can still suffer from sinus infection. Although small, the maxillary (behind the cheek) and ethmoid (between the eyes) sinuses are present at birth. Sinusitis is difficult to identify in children because respiratory infections are more frequent, and symptoms can be subtle. Unlike a cold or allergy, bacterial sinusitis requires a physician’s diagnosis and treatment with an antibiotic to prevent future complications.

The following symptoms may indicate a sinus infection in your child:

  • A “cold” lasting more than 10 to 14 days, sometimes with low-grade fever
  • Thick yellow-green nasal drainage
  • Post-nasal drip, sometimes leading to or exhibited as sore throat, cough, bad breath, nausea and/or vomiting
  • Headache, usually not before age 6
  • Irritability or fatigue
  • Swelling around the eyes

If despite appropriate medical therapy these symptoms persist, care should be taken to seek an underlying cause. The role of allergy and frequent upper respiratory infections should be considered.

Tips to prevent sinusitis:

As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To avoid developing sinusitis during a cold or allergy attack, keep your sinuses clear by:

  • Using an oral decongestant or a short course of nasal spray decongestant
  • Gently blowing your nose, blocking one nostril while blowing through the other
  • Drinking plenty of fluids to keep nasal discharge thin
  • Avoiding air travel. If you must fly, use a nasal spray decongestant before take-off to prevent blockage of the sinuses,allowing mucus to drain
  • If you have allergies, try to avoid contact with things that trigger attacks. If you cannot, use over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines and/or a prescription nasal spray to control allergy attacks.

Allergy testing, followed by appropriate allergy treatments, may increase your tolerance of allergy-causing substances. If you believe you may have sinusitis, see our tips for sinusitis sufferers.

Location: United States

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