About this topic
The sinuses are air-filled spaces inside the head. They are found behind your childs forehead, nose, cheeks, and eyes. The spaces are lined with small hairs that clean the sinuses. ‚
Sinusitis means that your child's sinuses are swollen, inflamed, or infected. This happens when the small hairs that clean the sinuses do not work, or when the opening to the sinuses is blocked. Mucus is trapped inside the sinuses and causes pain. The block may be caused by: ‚
- Colds ¢ ˆ ’ This is the most common reason.
- Allergies
- Curving or bending of the wall that separates your child's nose. This is a deviated septum.
- Extra bony growths inside the nose. These are called nasal bone spurs.
- Chemical irritation from cigarette smoke or other irritating odors
Signs can last for up to 4 weeks or may be long-lasting. They may also appear again in a few months after your child is feeling better. Doctors may treat sinusitis by giving drugs. Surgery may be needed if sinusitis happens again and again. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what you need to do to care for your child.
- Your doctor may order a saline nose rinse to help clear your childs sinuses.
- Have your child drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day to help thin mucus.
- Have older children use two or three pillows under the head and shoulders when sleeping. This will help the sinuses drain.
- Have your child drape a towel over the head and breathe in steam from a bowl of warm water. This will help moisturize your child's sinuses. This may also drain clogged sinuses.
- Put a warm compress to your child's face to ease facial pain.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your childs progress. Be sure to keep your child's visits.
- Your doctor will tell you if other tests are needed.
- Your doctor may send your child for allergy tests or to an allergy expert.
What lifestyle changes are needed?
- Do not give your child drinks that contain caffeine.
- Do not smoke around your child. Keep your child away from others who smoke. Smoke can damage the small hairs inside your childs sinuses.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Fight an infection
- Control coughing
- Dry up the sinuses
- Help a runny or stuffy nose
Will physical activity be limited?
Your child does not have to limit activity. Your child may want to rest more if your child has a fever or headache. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Infections that happen again and again
- Asthma attack
- Coughing
- Loss of voice
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Keep the nose as moist as possible. Use saline sprays, washes, and a humidifier often.
- Avoid being around cigarette and cigar smoke or strong odors from chemicals.
- Avoid long periods of swimming in pools treated with chlorine. This can bother the lining of the nose and sinuses.
- Avoid water diving. This forces water into the sinuses from the nasal passages.
- Manage allergies with your doctors help.
- Use an air conditioner if allergies are a problem.
- Before air travel, use a drug to dry up mucus. As the plane takes off or lands, the pressure can cause sinus pain.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills.
- Sudden breathing problems
- Your child is not feeling better in 2 or 3 days or your child is feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you about your child. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my childs condition.
- I can tell you what may help ease my child's breathing.
- I can tell you what I will do if my child has a fever, chills, or trouble breathing.
Where can I learn more?
American Rhinologic Society ‚
http://care.american-rhinologic.org/adult_sinusitis ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/sinusitis.html ‚
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ‚
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/sinusitis/Pages/index.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚