Repeated Sinus Infections in Children
Watching your child suffer through repeated sinus infections can be particularly frustrating. Just when one infection clears, it seems that another one begins, causing pain and pressure and a variety of other unpleasant symptoms. Treating frequent infections begins with identifying the cause of the infections and finding an appropriate solution.
Other People Are Reading
-
Symptoms
-
Symptoms of a sinus infection, or sinusitis, include thick yellow or green nasal mucus, headache, cough, fever and pressure around the nose, eyes and cheeks. Because children may experience an average of six to eight upper respiratory infections each year, it can be hard to distinguish between a sinus infection and an upper respiratory infection, according to the Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine.
Allergies
-
Allergies that affect the nose, such as hay fever, cause sinus symptoms that may lead to sinusitis. If your child has frequent sinus infections and you notice more infections when the seasons change or when your child is exposed to allergens, it is possible that allergies may contribute to her problem, according to the Florida Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Society. Allergy skin testing may be recommended if your doctor suspects that this reaction may be occurring. If allergies are discovered during testing, medication can help prevent the allergic reactions that trigger a sinus infection.
-
Frequent Upper Respiratory Infections
-
Upper respiratory infections (URI) cause sinus congestion or a runny nose, which can turn into a sinus infection, in some cases. Children who have frequent URIs have a greater chance of developing a sinus infection. School-aged children and those in day care are more likely to be exposed to a range of germs and may develop URIs or sinus infections as a result. A weakened or suppressed immune system can worsen the problem.
Dry Air
-
Dry air irritates the lining of the nose, making it more susceptible to infection. Low humidity during the winter months can cause the problem, which can often be relieved by placing a humidifier in your child's bedroom. Dry air is particularly a problem on airline flights and if your child flies often, you may notice more frequent infections. If you can convince your child to use a nasal saline spray, the spray may help relieve dry nasal passages during a flight.
Polyps
-
An antrochoanal polyp, a non-cancerous growth in the sinuses, may be responsible for an increase in sinus infections. While not particularly common in children, this type of polyp can block sinus passages and cause frequent sinus infections. Removal of the polyp is the standard treatment for this condition.
Adenoids
-
The adenoids are clumps of tissues located at the back of the throat near the nose. Frequent adenoid infections can result in enlarged adenoids that block the sinuses, causing infection. If your child has chronic sinusitis caused by enlarged adenoids, surgery to remove the adenoids is usually recommended.
Genetic Disorders
-
Children with cystic fibrosis may develop sinus infections more often than other children. Thickened mucus in the lungs and nose can block sinus passages and make it more likely that an infection will occur. The high level of salt in the secretions make them a perfect breeding ground for the bacteria that causes a sinus infection. People with cystic fibrosis may also be more likely to develop nasal polyps. Kartagener syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects the lungs and respiratory tract. If your child has this syndrome, hairlike structures in the respiratory tract called cilia are unable to move. Normal cilia move back and forth, pushing mucus out of the respiratory tract. When mucus is not removed efficiently from the nose, sinus infections are likely to occur. Unfortunately, there is no way to cure these problems, and sinus infections are treated with antibiotics when they occur.
-
