Sinusitis in Children
Sinusitis is caused due an infection in the sinuses, which are moist air spaces in the facial bones adjoining the nose. The underlying cause of the infection may be cold or allergy. In most cases sinusitis is a temporary condition and can be treated easily. The symptoms of sinusitis differ depending on the age and cause of infection. In case of young children sinusitis may develop as a result of symptoms suggesting a cold. These include runny or stuffy nose followed by slight fever. In case the child develops fever after five to seven days of cold-like symptoms, this may be indicative of sinusitis.
In most cases the headache that commonly accompanies a cold is mistaken for sinusitis, especially in kids younger than six years. However this is a misconception as sinuses start developing in the forehead at the age of six or seven, and not before that, thus eliminating sinusitis is children younger than six. In case of children older than six and those in their teens sinusitis is usually characterized by dry cough, especially during the day. This cough generally lasts for more than a week after the symptoms of cold have been detected. The symptoms include dental pain, fever; severe congestion, ear pain and tenderness of the face. In certain cases nausea, stomach upset, pain in the eyes and headaches may also accompany sinusitis.
Sinusitis is diagnosed through physical examination of the patient. In most cases sinusitis is not a serious condition and the symptoms disappear with adequate rest and care taken. There is no particular form of treatment; however the doctor may prescribe antibiotics to relieve pain and fever. Apart from this, antihistamines and decongestants may also be prescribed to relieve the symptoms. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen may be recommended. The doctor may suggest remedial measures such as warm compresses to provide relief, especially during an episode of headache.
Though it may look inviting, over-the-counter medications are not recommended as they may cause unnecessary side effects in children. It is best to take some preventive measures to avoid the disease altogether. Small changes in your house and living area can help prevent an attack of sinusitis. These include using a humidifier during the winters to keep the air moist by maintaining the interior humidity to about 40%-50%. Apart from this, it is best to educate children on importance of maintaining hygiene to avoid spread of common cold or other such symptoms, which may lead to sinusitis. Through effective preventive measures sinusitis can be controlled as well as avoided.
Written by admin on February 27, 2011 under Otolaryngology.
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