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How To Tell Sinus Infection In Kids

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Your child is sneezing, miserable, and congested; it seems you'll never be over this cold. But what if it's not a cold at all? What if there is another reason your child can't shake her nasal symptoms? What if she has a sinus infection?

Sinus infection in kids is possible, even though the sinuses are not fully developed and will not be until near the age of twenty. Sinus infection in kids often goes unnoticed—or at least undiagnosed—because the symptoms can be attributed to so many other common childhood conditions. So how do you know if your child is suffering from a sinus infection? When is it time to see the doctor for evaluation and treatment help?

First, off, it helps to know that sinus infection, or sinusitis as it is medically termed, follows some other condition in almost all cases. Typically, a cold or nasal allergies cause congestion and blockage of the sinuses which keeps the child's sinus cavities from draining properly. In such a warm, moist environment with such a good host medium (built-up mucus), bacteria, viruses, and fungi easily thrive. So the first thing to consider when you suspect sinus infection in kids is whether there has been an infection of some sort or allergic reaction precipitating the lasting symptoms.

Next, it helps to know what symptoms might exist with sinus infection in kids. Common symptoms of sinus infection in kids are

• Cold-like symptoms that last more than 2 weeks
• Tenderness in the face
• Greenish discharge—note that colored discharge itself is not enough to diagnose a sinus infection in kids—colds often carry greenish or yellow nasal discharge as well
• Cough (worse at night) with nasal discharge
• Fever (though not always)
• Headache—in teenagers, not in young children with underdeveloped sinuses in the forehead

When It's Probably Not A Sinus Infection

It helps to be able to separate the symptoms of sinus infection in kids from the symptoms that probably indicate allergies or a cold instead. In the following instances, the cause of symptoms points more toward an upper respiratory infection or cold, not allergies.

• Runny nose (that is draining)
• Clear nasal discharge
• Cough without discharge
• Sore throat
• Itchy eyes
• Itchy mouth
• Decreased activity
• Nasal congestion that begins to clear after 10-14 days

Call The Doctor

If symptoms point more towards sinus infection in kids, a call to the doctor is well-placed. When symptoms have only been persisting for a week or a week and a half, and some improvement is noted, the call can probably wait a few days. In most cases, doctors want to avoid over-diagnosis and treatment of sinus infection in kids to ward against misuse of antibiotics and drug resistance.

Parents should also realize that even if symptoms are due to sinusitis, viruses and fungi can also be a cause; antibiotics are designed to fight bacteria and do nothing against a viral sinus infection, so sometimes it is in the best interest of medicine to hold off a few days on antibiotic treatment and see if the condition clears. Unless the condition is chronic or severe, this is generally okay and the doctor can give you tips for relieving symptoms of sinus infection in kids as the body does its job. As long as the doctor can explain to you why waiting or withholding treatment for sinus infection in kids is a good idea, you are best served to follow his advice; of course, if you are uncomfortable, you can always seek a second opinion and you can always make a return trip if symptoms worsen or fail to improve.

As always, the best advice regarding when to call the doctor is whenever you feel it is necessary; parents know their children best, and it is always better to be cautious than neglectful of a medical illness. Your child's doctor or office staff can help you make the decision as to when the child needs to be seen.

To Recap

1. Determine whether a cold or allergy has recently been experienced
2. Try to determine what symptoms fit the description of sinus infection in kids
3. Try to determine what symptoms are more likely attributable to another condition
4. If in doubt, take the child to the doctor
5. Respect the doctor's decision not treat an apparently non-bacterial sinus infection with antibiotics
6. See the doctor again if symptoms do not improve

 

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