Pediatric Sinusitis
Pediatric Sinusitis
Children’s sinuses aren’t fully developed until they are teenagers, making them more prone to sinus infections than adults. These may be difficult to diagnose since the symptoms of sinusitis are identical to those found in other conditions such as colds and allergies.
Sinusitis Causes
Sinusitis occurs when the tissues lining the sinuses become swollen and inflamed, interfering with the drainage of mucus. It is usually caused by a cold or allergies, but can also occur as the result of structural abnormalities like nasal polyps or a deviated septum, injuries to the face, or immune system disorders.
Sinusitis Symptoms
Symptoms of sinusitis in children mimic those of the common cold and include irritability, runny nose, congestion, sore throat, cough, postnasal drip, facial pressure and swelling, headache, fever, fatigue, loss of smell and taste, and a thick yellow-green nasal discharge. When sinusitis is the culprit, symptoms usually persist longer than a week to ten days, the typical duration of a cold.
Children who are exposed to tobacco smoke, suffer from allergies, attend daycare or preschool, and experience acid reflux are more prone to developing sinusitis.
Sinusitis Treatment
Our ENT specialists will examine the ears, nose, and throat, and may order a CT scan to look for physical obstructions of the sinuses, to confirm a diagnoses of chronic sinusitis. Sinusitis in children often has an underlying allergy cause, so an allergy evaluation may also be recommended.
Treatment depends on whether the condition is acute (short-term) or chronic (lasting 12 weeks or longer). Acute cases can be treated with antibiotics, nasal decongestants, or saline sprays. Symptoms should improve after a few days of treatment, but the full course of antibiotics (if prescribed) must be taken in order to prevent the sinus infection from returning. Chronic sinusitis is more serious, and requires a long-term medical or surgical solution.
Call DeFatta ENT & Allergy at (715) 828-2368 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
