What Symptoms Put Children at Risk for Sinusitis? Check Now!

What Symptoms Put Children at Risk for Sinusitis? Check Now! What Symptoms Put Children at Risk for Sinusitis? Check Now! What Symptoms Put Children at Risk for Sinusitis? Check Now!

Did you know that your little one can also get "sinusitis," just like adults? Often, the symptoms of a common cold, sinusitis, and allergies are so similar that it is difficult to distinguish them. If your child has green mucus, it could signal more than you think. How can moms distinguish the symptoms and observe their child? You can find more information about sinusitis in children by reading this article.

Understanding Sinusitis in Children

  • What is sinusitis?

The sinuses are air-filled cavities located within the skull, specifically around the areas of the eyebrows, the sides of the nose, and the cheekbones. These cavities produce mucus and immune defenses that flow through small openings into the nasal cavity. This process helps to moisturize the nasal passages and protect them from infections.

  • What causes sinusitis in children?

When the nasal passages become swollen, whether due to a cold, nasal inflammation, allergies, enlarged adenoids, or the presence of a foreign object, the channels connecting the sinuses and the nasal cavity may become blocked. This blockage leads to mucus accumulation within the sinuses. When pathogens from the nasal cavity enter the sinuses, an infection can develop, resulting in the formation of pus. This condition is known as "sinusitis”.

  • Let’s examine the differences between “sinusitis” and “common cold”?

The common cold and sinusitis have similar symptoms. A cold typically begins with fever, cough, clear nasal discharge, and nasal congestion. If the cold does not improve over time, it can lead to sinusitis, resulting in persistent nasal discharge that does not get better. The color of the mucus may be green, yellow, or white and thick. The child may experience worsening cough due to mucus or pus from the sinuses draining down the throat, which can trigger coughing, especially at night while sleeping. Additionally, the child’s breath may have a foul odor.

  • How do moms check for symptoms of sinusitis in their little ones?

The common symptoms your child may experience include nasal congestion, green or yellow nasal discharge, foul-smelling breath, headaches, thick mucus draining down the throat, and frequent coughing. Some children may also experience nosebleeds, pain in the cheeks, pain in the upper molars, pain in the nose, pain in the forehead, pain in the temples, and pain in the back of the head, particularly severe pain in the area of the head. The doctor will diagnose sinusitis when these symptoms are present:

  • If your little one has had cold symptoms that have persisted for more than 10 days and are progressively worsening, or if they have had cold symptoms for over 14 days without improvement, along with nasal congestion, mucus, coughing (especially at night), foul-smelling breath, headaches, sore throat, facial swelling, and low-grade fever, particularly with tenderness when touching the sinus areas, it may indicate sinusitis;
  • If your child has a high fever exceeding 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 degrees Fahrenheit) along with yellow nasal discharge lasting at least 3–4 days or swelling and pain in the facial area, this is a concerning sign; and
  • If cold symptoms worsen or new symptoms arise after approximately 5–6 days following an upper respiratory viral infection—such as the return of fever, increased mucus, coughing, or worsening headaches—these may also indicate a progression to sinusitis.

How to care for your little ones when they have sinusitis?

  1. Administration of Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be prescribed according to the doctor's recommendations. The physician will evaluate the appropriateness of these medications for each child. The duration of antibiotic treatment can range from 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the severity of the infection, and should continue until the pus is completely cleared from the sinuses.
  2. Reducing Nasal Congestion: To facilitate the drainage of pus from the sinuses, it is important to reduce swelling in the nasal passages. This can be achieved through methods such as saline nasal irrigation, the use of steroid nasal sprays, or decongestants.
  3. Avoiding Stimulating Substances: - Avoid allergens from dust mites, as sinusitis can partially result from nasal allergies, which cause nasal swelling and subsequent infections.
    ​- Avoid exposing your child to environments with cigarette smoke, as it can lead to nasal inflammation and swelling.
    - Stay away from crowded places to reduce the risk of infection from those around them.
    - Avoid taking your child swimming in unclean pools.

A heartfelt thanks for helpful information provided by Ms. Piyarat ‘Ann’ Lertbannaphong, M.D., the specialized paediatrician.

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