What Is Sinusitis In Children?

Sinusitis Defined

Sinusitis in children is commonly known as a sinus infection. This is an infection of the spaces behind your cheek bones and forehead called the sinuses. These spaces are usually free of germs, but can become infected when a person is congested and the mucous gets stuck in the sinuses. Sinusitis, however, is more often accompanied by facial pressure or pain, particularly when bending over, thick yellow or green mucus rather than clear or whitish mucus, and post-nasal drip, particularly at night, leading to a sore throat.  Also, acute sinusitis typically lasts longer than the 7 to 10 days of a common cold. The inflammation is the result of infection in trapped mucus in the sinus cavities.

What Causes Sinusitis in Children?

Children whose sinuses are functioning without any problems do not get infected by sinusitis. For blocking of sinuses which are draining normally there must be a primary condition.

The potential for getting sinusitis exist if something causes increase in mucus production. The trigger for getting sinusitis can either be cold or allergy. Children suffering from child allergies have the following problems.

	Child allergies result in swelling of the nasal passages
	Large amounts of mucus are produced in nasal passages
	The sinus tissues take the lead of the nasal passages and also increase mucus production
	It is not possible to drain fully the excess amounts of mucus; dry and crusted mucus blocks drainage points from the sinuses
	Mucus trapped in the sinuses is the primary growth triggers for bacteria, fungi, and viruses
	This causes proliferation of pathogens or germs which result in a sinus infection with sinus inflammation; this is known as sinusitis

The sinusitis in children can be acute or long lasting. Acute sinusitis is one time infection and will become chronic if not attended to on time. In chronic sinusitis, the sinus infection is present constantly; in case the infection occurs frequently or lasts for more than three months it is long lasting or chronic sinusitis. In such a situation it is advisable to discuss the problem with the child's primary care physician.

What Are The Symptoms Of Sinusitis In Children?

Normally it is difficult to diagnose the existence of sinusitis; however, by keeping a close watch on the child's sinus symptoms one will be able to say when the child is suffering from sinusitis. Another reason for difficulty in detecting sinusitis is because the symptoms of sinusitis are same as those of is nasal allergies and the common cold. 

Symptoms of sinusitis in children are:

	Symptoms similar to ones when child catches cold
	Stuffy nose
	Thick, yellow-green mucus/nasal discharge
	Runny nose
	Young children have low fever whereas children over 6 to 7 years get high fever
	Dry daytime cough lasting more than 1 week
	Congestion
	Jaw pain
	Ear pain
	Tenderness in the face

Since the sinus cavities in the forehead do not develop for children until the late stages of childhood, there is no possibility of young children getting headaches which are considered as a symptom for sinusitis. Sinus headache, stomach upset/nausea and pain in back of the eyes are the problems encountered by teenagers.

What Can Help Prevent And Relieve Sinusitis In Children?

Curing of bacterial sinusitis can be done only after a course of oral antibiotics is given. Chronic sinusitis is more difficult to cure and take a long time for curing; they require potent treatment with antibiotics without which there is a possibility of the sinuses getting damaged permanently. For curing a viral case of sinusitis in children, oral antibiotics are not good enough; the infection has to be left to run its course. Management of sinusitis in such cases is done by focussing on relief to the child.

Relieving the symptoms both in viral sinusitis and bacterial sinusitis will help in managing the children with either of this sinusitis. Some remedies are as under.

	Excess mucus from the sinuses can be cleared by oral decongestants
	The mucus can be softened by humidifiers which help in faster clearing of mucus.
	Mucus is kept moving by frequent and gentle nose-blowing
	Sinuses are kept soft and flowing by good hydration
	Discomfort due to sinus pain and fever are minimized by using child-strength pain relievers
	Sinus pressure and pain are relieved by warm compresses

sinuses. In case the children are suffering from allergies prevention can be done only avoiding nasal allergy triggers and clearing the congestion early...

By proper allergy management one can reduce the extreme conditions which lead to sinusitis in children. This is one of the main reasons that encourage parents to bring children's allergy symptoms under control.