What is sinusitis?
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses around the nose and forehead. The inflammation can also happen in the eyes and brain, although this is rare.
Sinusitis is often called rhinosinusitis.
The sinuses are the little spaces or hollows between the bones of the skull and face. The sinuses are connected to each other. They’re also connected by small tubes to the passages inside the nose.
What causes sinusitis in children?
Sinusitis can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
Sinusitis can also be caused by allergies. Children with a family history of allergies are more likely to develop sinusitis.
Sinusitis is more common in older kids and adults than in babies and younger children.
What are the symptoms of sinusitis?
If your child has sinusitis, they might have some of or all the following symptoms:
- blocked nose
- thick, green mucus coming out of their nose
- post-nasal drip – nasal fluid running down the back of their throat
- pressure or congestion over the area of an infected sinus
- pain and swelling, especially under the eyes and often worse on one side of the face
- irritation and coughing
- fever and bad breath.
When should you take your child to a doctor?
You should take your child to your GP if your child has:
- symptoms of sinusitis
- fever or is generally unwell with no apparent cause
- eye swelling during or after a bad cold
- difficulty seeing – for example, double vision
- swelling of the forehead or headache
If your child has sinusitis for a long time or keeps getting it, they should also see the GP.
If your child suffers from regular or severe sinusitis, your GP might send your child for a CT scan to see whether there are any problems with the structure of their sinuses.
How to treat sinusitis in children
Paracetamol or ibuprofen in recommended doses can help ease sinusitis pain.
Saline nasal drops or washes can help clear congestion.
Antibiotics are the most common treatment for sinusitis caused by bacterial infection. They’re also used when sinusitis symptoms haven’t cleared after 10 days or are getting worse despite treatment.
If sinusitis is caused by allergies, nasal steroid sprays can reduce the swelling in the lining of the sinuses, which can help with mucus drainage.
How to prevent sinusitis in children
The best way to stop your child from getting a viral sinus infection is to protect them from getting colds or the flu.
Regular hand-washing and not sharing drink bottles, cups or utensils are simple ways to do this.
If your child is getting sinusitis all the time and swimming a lot, especially in winter, they should stop swimming until the infections clear. This is because chlorine pool water irritates the nose.
If your child gets sinusitis because of allergies like hay fever, regular antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays can help prevent it. It’s also important to reduce your child’s exposure to their hay fever triggers.
Frequently asked questions about sinusitis in children
Is a sinus infection contagious?
The viral or bacterial infection that causes a sinus infection is contagious for the first few days. After the first few days, sinus infections aren’t contagious.
How long does a sinus infection last?
Sinus infections usually get better after about 3 weeks.