Sinusitis in Children
The presence of the following symptoms may indicate a sinus infection in children:
- Fever that sometimes lasts more than 10 to 14 days and sometimes is low-grade
- Dark consistency yellow-green nasal discharge
- Sometimes a sore throat. Post-nasal discharge that can cause cough, bad breath, nausea and / or vomiting
- Headache (usually not seen before the age of 6)
- Nervousness and fatigue
- Swelling around the eyes
 |
| In the photo above, postnasal, thick, purulent discharge is seen. |
Sinusitis causes are usually viruses and bacteria. Although rare, there may be fungal agents. Fever is more prominent in bacterial sinusitis.
Sinusitis diagnosis in children
Generally, simple endoscopic nasal examination is sufficient for the diagnosis of acute sinusitis. It is typical to observe intranasal or postnasal purulent discomfort in the examinations of the patients. In patients with treatment-resistant and recurrent sinusitis attacks, endoscopic examination can also be used to evaluate the adenoid tissue located in the most backward and central nasal cavity, and rarely, imaging methods may be requested.
Sinusitis treatment in children
Unilateral, purulent and foul-smelling runny nose may be a sign of a foreign body in the nose!
Sometimes in young children, when there is a unilateral and malodorous nasal discharge, it occurs due to unilateral inflammation, which can occur due to a foreign body inserted into the nose. When sinusitis occurs in children, the inflammatory discharge usually comes from both nostrils; Runny nose due to foreign body is usually one-sided and bad-smelling. In this case, an ent specialist should be consulted for examination. Foreign objects inserted into the nose can sometimes be overlooked and may remain for weeks, months or even years after insertion. These foreign bodies are classified as living and non-living or organic and inroganic. In general, organic foreign bodies inserted into the nose tend to irritate the nasal mucosa more, they can gradually grow in the nose, obstruct the airway, and tend to cause much earlier symptoms.
Ways to reduce the number of sinusitis attacks in children
You can pay attention to the following suggestions to reduce the frequency of sinusitis and other upper respiratory tract infections in children:
- Staying away from crowded and closed environments as little as possible
Schools and nurseries are generally both closed and crowded environments. In these environments, it is useful to open the windows in the classrooms from time to time and ventilate the classroom. Apart from this, it would be beneficial for children to avoid entering similar closed and crowded environments as much as possible.
- Preventing contact with cigarette smoke
Smoking near children is very harmful. In children who come into contact with cigarette smoke, both the frequency of middle ear infections and the frequency of sinusitis and other upper respiratory tract infections increase
- Reducing contact with patients with upper respiratory tract symptoms
Children can get sick much more easily through contact with microbes, and it is much easier for children to develop upper respiratory tract infections. It would be beneficial for families to make an effort to prevent their children from coming into contact with people with upper respiratory tract symptoms. If a patient with symptoms of urticaria comes home, it will be beneficial to open the windows and ventilate the house before the children arrive and to let the sunlight in.
- Regular nasal lavage
Intranasal irrigation with ocean water before school, after school and before going to bed is beneficial for both reducing the spread of infection and cleaning the inside of the nose.
- Reducing hand-mouth contact
Children should be taught not to put their hands in their noses, eyes and mouths in crowded and high-touch areas (such as playgrounds, schools, service vehicles), that it is good to wash their hands frequently, or to use hand sanitizers. Children should not put their hands in their mouths after using simple gel-formed hand sanitizers.
- Having a healthy diet that includes enough vegetables, fruits and protein during seasonal changes
- The frequency of urticaria may increase due to sweating and sudden body cooling during exercise activities at school. It is beneficial to put thin layers of spare clothes in children's school bags and to change sweaty underwear at school to prevent serious changes in body temperature.
Similar links >> Causes, Treatment, Classification of Sinusitis / Is A Sinus Infection Contagious? / Sinusitis - Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Complications and Treatment
Murat Enoz, MD, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgeon - ENT Doctor in Istanbul
Private Office:
Address: İncirli Cad. No:41, Kat:4 (Dilek Patisserie Building), Postal code: 34147, Bakırköy - İstanbul
Appointment Phone: +90 212 561 00 52
Appointment Phone: +90 212 561 00 52
Fax: +90 212 542 74 47
Comments
Post a Comment