Sinusitis in children: signs, symptoms and proper treatment. Symptoms and effective treatment of sinusitis in children Sinusitis symptoms treatment of a child at home

Sinusitis is an inflammatory process that occurs on the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinuses. This disease can be found quite often in children, especially in its mild form. However, there are situations when inflammation becomes active, causing the accumulation of purulent masses. This can lead to severe illness and dangerous health consequences.

That is why it is important to timely identify this pathological process and correct treatment of maxillary sinusitis in a small patient. Many parents are interested in the question of whether it is possible to treat sinusitis in a child at home. The answer to this should be sought at an appointment with a doctor. Self-medication in such a case is unacceptable.

Diagnosis of the disease in children

The main causes of inflammation in the maxillary sinuses include common rhinitis. Quite often, the disease appears in children against the background of weakened immunity. Infections such as measles, scarlet fever, influenza and others can also cause maxillary sinusitis.

Since it is more difficult to identify sinusitis in a small patient than in an adult, mothers and fathers should pay close attention to the following symptoms:

1. Child's breathing. It should not be hampered by congestion in the nasal passages.
2. Painful sensations in the area of ​​the nose and head. Very young children cannot describe what exactly worries them. But be that as it may, vigilant adults will be able to determine this by the behavior of the baby.
3. An increase in body temperature, which, with the development of an acute form, can exceed 38 degrees Celsius.
4. The appearance of mucus from the nasal passages, which has a yellowish or greenish tint.
5. Lethargy, weakness and malaise.
6. Night rest disorders.
7. Lack of appetite.
8. Swelling of the skin on the eyelids and cheeks.

When the first signs of an inflammatory process appear in the maxillary sinuses, you should, without wasting time, seek help from a qualified ENT specialist.

The doctor will conduct an examination and, based on the overall clinical picture, blood tests, and diaphanoscopy (examination of the sinuses), make a diagnosis and prescribe the necessary therapy, which will prevent the disease from becoming chronic.

Statistics show that children in the preschool period, up to 6-7 years of age, and primary school students are most susceptible to maxillary sinusitis. This is associated with unstable immunity, unlike in adults.

Traditional therapy

With this disease, the treatment process in children is based on an integrated approach. Traditional therapy includes:

• taking medications that eliminate the symptoms of the disease;
• local procedures that are aimed at strengthening the child’s immune system;
• surgical intervention (only if there is a need for it).

It is possible to cure maxillary sinusitis, both in young patients and in adults, with the use of drug therapy. But it should be remembered that the right medicine must be selected and prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the general health of the patient, his age category, stage, and form of the disease.

Treatment with medications includes the following:

1. The use of nasal medications in the form of drops and sprays. The most common drugs with a vasoconstrictor effect that are used to treat children are Sanorin, Naphthyzin, Nazivin. They help relieve accumulations of mucous masses in the child’s nasal passages. However, the use of such funds cannot be carried out frequently and for a long time. In addition, symptomatic medications are prescribed that have antihistamine, analgesic, anti-inflammatory or mucolytic properties.
2. Taking antibacterial and antibiotic drugs. Nowadays, topical antibiotics like Bioparox, Isofra, and so on are available. In advanced forms of the disease, there is a need for a course of antibiotic therapy. Children are mainly prescribed penicillins (2nd and 3rd generation), macrolides, cephalosporins, and amoxicillin.
3. Physiotherapy procedures such as UV irradiation, UHF currents, Sollux lamps.

You can learn more about the symptoms and therapeutic treatment of inflammation of the maxillary sinuses in children from the program “Doctor Komarovsky’s School.”

Traditional medicine recipes

Such auxiliary therapy to medication prescribed by a specialist, such as traditional medicine recipes, will help treat sinusitis in children at home.

Home recipes used for the inflammatory process in the maxillary sinuses are not recommended for treating children without prior approval from their doctor.

Some traditional medicine can increase swelling in the nose and sinuses, and therefore aggravate the condition of the little patient.

Home methods of getting rid of the disease, carried out by parents at their own discretion, if the child is ill, are unacceptable. They may not only not help, but also worsen the clinical picture. Only after consultation with a pediatrician or otolaryngologist is it possible to use such treatment methods. They enhance the effectiveness of drug therapy.

Sanitation of the nasal passages

Nasal irrigation is an effective procedure that helps physically remove mucus and pus from the nasal passages. For sanitation, saline solutions, brewed St. John's wort inflorescences, and propolis-based solutions are used. The above remedies must not be used to treat a child without being prescribed by a specialist.

Treatment of sinusitis in children with folk remedies by sanitizing the nasal cavity is carried out using the following recipes:

1. A homemade salt solution is prepared as follows: half a teaspoon of kitchen or sea salt is diluted in 200 milliliters of boiled warm water. The manipulation is repeated three times per day, maintaining equal time intervals between procedures.
2. You can also sanitize your nose with a soda solution. To obtain an effective medicinal composition, take 1/2 teaspoon of soda, dissolving it in 200 milliliters of boiled water, and use it for one wash. During the day, the manipulation is repeated five times.
3. Tincture of eucalyptus leaves. Rinse the nasal cavity three times during the day.

Homemade drops for children

Supporters of natural remedies recommended by traditional medicine prefer not store-bought pharmacy sprays, but nasal drops made independently from the juice of Kalanchoe, aloe or onion. However, such folk remedies for the unpleasant manifestations of sinusitis in children should be used with great caution, since there is a risk of getting a burn to the nasal mucosa.

Before treating a child for maxillary sinusitis with homemade drops, you must first consult a doctor regarding the admissibility of their use. The most popular folk recipes for nasal drops include the following:

1. Celandine juice, aloe and flower honey are mixed in equal proportions until a homogeneous mixture is obtained. It has healing properties and can be used for instillation into the nose of a child suffering from sinusitis. 5 drops of the product are dripped into each nostril four times a day. Treatment lasts for ten days. This recipe will also help get rid of a runny nose caused by polyps and adenoids.
2. Mumiyo and camphor oil are mixed in a ratio of 1:5. The resulting drops are used four times a day for a week. 4-5 drops of the resulting product are dripped into the nasal passage. This is one of the most effective recipes for getting rid of sinusitis when its first symptoms appear.
3. Sea buckthorn oil has remarkable healing properties. Its use for instillation into the nose quickly clears the sinuses of purulent masses and restores the mucous membrane. 2 drops of oil are dripped into each nostril three times a day. Traditional healers recommend alternating sea buckthorn oil with rosehip oil to achieve the best effect. The second helps to activate local immunity. However, you cannot make a mixture of these two oils; they should be instilled into the nose separately. This therapy is contraindicated in children under two years of age.
4. Another excellent recipe for homemade drops for sinusitis in a child is menthol oil drops. They help improve the well-being of the little patient, eliminate congestion in the nasal passages, and restore normal breathing. 2 drops of oil are dripped into each nostril three times a day. External use of this folk remedy is also recommended. It can be used to rub the area of ​​the maxillary sinuses and bridge of the nose. Such therapy helps to obtain a quick effect. After the first manipulation, the patient will feel relief.
5. A mixture of aloe juice and honey, taken in equal parts, is an excellent folk remedy for sinusitis. It is used as nasal drops three times a day. 3 drops are dripped into each nostril.

Inhalation procedures

According to doctors, therapy for inflammation in the maxillary sinuses in children allows the use of inhalation procedures. They help free the sinuses from purulent masses and relieve inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Among the folk recipes used for inhalation, one can highlight boiled potatoes, fir oil, calendula tincture, and a decoction of birch buds.

The most popular is the so-called “potato inhalation”. This is an affordable and simple remedy that is effective for any diseases associated with the respiratory tract. To carry out the inhalation procedure, you should boil several large potatoes “in their uniforms”. When they are cooked, dry them with a napkin and place them in a ceramic bowl.

Potato steam is inhaled for twenty minutes, covered with a terry sheet. The procedure can be performed several times a day for two weeks.

Fir inhalation also quickly helps with sinusitis. To carry it out, dilute 30 drops of fir oil in 200 milliliters of very hot water and leave the open container on the radiator. Thanks to this, healing vapors fill the room where the sick person is, providing a healing effect on the inflamed nasal mucosa. It is recommended to carry out a similar procedure within seven days.

Therapeutic turundas

This type of treatment is also popular for inflammation of the maxillary sinuses in children. Turunda is a rolled cotton swab that is soaked in medicine and placed in the nasal passage from a few minutes to two hours. You can put turunda three times a day.

Among such folk recipes for use on turunda, herbal decoctions, sea buckthorn oil, and propolis ointment are considered the most effective.

Application of acupressure of the sinuses

Thanks to properly done acupressure, you can significantly alleviate the condition of a patient with sinusitis. It relieves swelling and improves metabolic processes in the area of ​​inflammation.

In case of acute sinusitis, massage will not help, but doctors recommend treating the final stage of the disease with this aid. The massage is performed by gently tapping the fingertips in the area of ​​the wings of the nose, bridge of the nose, and upper lip. For better results, massage is performed using pine or cedar oil.

Contraindications for maxillary sinusitis

The basic rule in the treatment of acute purulent sinusitis in a small patient is the inadmissibility of using warming procedures for the nose and legs. This is fraught with serious complications and increased inflammation.

When the first symptoms of sinusitis appear in a child, parents should urgently take measures to avoid developing a disease that can lead to serious complications. Among them are otitis media, bronchitis, pneumonia and even meningitis or sepsis.

Effective treatment of childhood sinusitis is quite possible at home, but it should be carried out only according to the doctor’s recommendations, adhering to the regimen prescribed by him. Otherwise, you can not only fail to cure, but also provoke a deterioration in the child’s well-being.

Sinusitis is a complex inflammatory process that occurs in the nasal sinuses. If sinusitis is not treated, complications and severe consequences can easily occur.

• Sinusitis is a common disease of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract (sinuses). This disease can be chronic. and spicy. Most often, children get sick with acute sinusitis. Not rarely, sinusitis is a consequence of rhinitis, as well as various viral and infectious diseases
• Advanced colds and allergic rhinitis also cause sinusitis in children. It occurs in those whose immunity suffers and is weak. Such cases are not uncommon during dental diseases and inflammatory diseases in the mouth. as well as the larynx
• Adenoids often cause sinusitis, as they are the reasons why nasal breathing is impaired
• Adenoids are also sources and spreaders of infections

causes of sinusitis in children

Another type of disease is chronic, occurring as a consequence of a severely suffered inflammatory disease. As a rule, during inflammation, unfavorable conditions are created in which the sinuses are not able to drain mucus and secretions.

Sinusitis often occurs for the following reasons:

• too thick nasal septum
• deviated septum in the nose
• hypertrophy of nasal turbinates

Every parent can notice that the child’s greatest predisposition to the disease occurs in the winter season. It is in winter that the child’s body is most susceptible and the immune system weakens.

treatment of sinusitis in children

Several types of sinusitis can be distinguished:

• sinusitis - a consequence of rhinitis
• sinusitis - infectious
• sinusitis - as a consequence of inflammatory diseases in the mouth
• sinusitis - as a result of injury

Sinuses are paired air cavities located near the nose. There are also two sinuses located above the eye sockets and one cavity at the base of the skull. All cavities are connected by channels through which the sinuses are ventilated and cleaned.

To get rid of the disease correctly, you need to know exactly the causes of the disease:

Sinusitis, as a consequence of ARVI or acute respiratory infections. Very often, sinusitis occurs after influenza, when normal mucous drainage is difficult. It is due to the lack of normal outflow that an infection enters the mucous membrane, causing the disease.

It is not uncommon for sinusitis to occur due to allergies. Due to the presence of irritants, ordinary allergic rhinitis can easily develop into sinusitis. This type of sinusitis is characterized by severe swelling of the sinuses.

sinusitis, sinuses

Injuries and bruises on the face also cause sinusitis. after all, they can damage the integrity and even fracture the nasal septum.

When the virus enters the bloodstream, an infectious disease occurs. Weak immunity causes the rapid development of rhinitis and its aggravation. This happens most often in children. Children's sinusitis also occurs as a consequence of:

• periodontitis - inflammatory diseases of the teeth
• osteomyelitis - a purulent infection that affects bone tissue
• periostitis - acute inflammation of the periosteum

Sinusitis can be aggravated by vegetative-vascular dystonia - disturbances in the functioning of the heart and blood vessels when the airways are poorly supplied with blood. Inflamed adenoids also contribute to the accumulation of mucus in the sinuses and favor the spread of infection.

Ordinary caries or stomatitis can also cause sinusitis.

The occurrence of sinusitis can be caused by a child’s predisposition to it and hereditary diseases, as well as congenital curvature of the nasal sinuses. The correct treatment can only be selected when the cause of its occurrence is clarified in detail and accurately.

Video: “Treatment of sinusitis”

Symptoms and signs of sinusitis in children at any age

As medical practice shows, the symptoms of the disease can occur in single or multiple quantities.

Most often you can distinguish:

• Increased constant pain in the head. It generally has a certain localization and most often radiates either to the forehead or to the temples. It can be seen that the pain is mainly localized where the sinus is inflamed. The headache can become clearer and stronger when tilting the head, sneezing and coughing. In a lying position, you can notice how the pain becomes easier and is not even noticeable. Headache with sinusitis depends entirely on the child’s activity.
• Pain in teeth - This is also a clear symptom indicating the presence of sinusitis in a child. Such sensations may intensify while chewing food. The most pain occurs in the chewing teeth, as they are very sensitive to inflammatory processes.
• Stuffy nose. The sinuses become clogged with pus and breathing becomes extremely difficult. It is very difficult to remove such pus naturally. It is very simple to distinguish sinusitis from a runny nose: listen to how the child describes how he feels. Sinusitis is often characterized by unilateral nasal congestion, and the nostril may change.
• High body temperature. Temperature occurs with sinusitis as with any other inflammatory disease. The body is trying with all its might to get rid of the disease and therefore its fight is responded to by an increase in temperature. Chills may occur
• Numerous discharges. Such nasal discharge can be different: sometimes transparent, sometimes have a cloudy yellowish or greenish tint. The sense of smell deteriorates. In the presence of such discharge, most often standard nose blowing cannot bring relief, except for a few minutes. After blowing your nose, your child may feel worse.
• Swelling and redness of the cheeks. On a child’s face you can sometimes notice an indistinct and sometimes obvious redness. Most often it appears on the side of the face where the inflamed sinus is located. If you press on the redness, you may feel pain. The same thing can be felt when you press the bridge of your nose.
• Moodiness. The child’s behavior changes, his activity declines, giving way to whims. Often the child suffers from poor appetite and even completely refuses food. His mood is one of apathy
• Voice change. The voice can become nasal due to the fact that the sinuses become filled with pus and put pressure on the septum
• A sore throat. It is also a symptom due to the inflammatory process, dryness and soreness cannot be ruled out.

The appearance of one or a number of symptoms indicates that you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Only he is able to prescribe treatment that can be effective.

Complications after sinusitis in children, what are the complications?

Complications after sinusitis have different localization and severity: On the organs of vision sinusitis has a negative effect. We are talking about simple swelling of the tissue to more complex inflammation of the orbit and even partial thrombosis of the venous vessels.

• To avoid complications in the visual organs, treatment should be based on antibiotics, which do not allow the infection to spread. This is especially important for children who do not have as strong an immune system as adults.
• Purulent sinusitis disrupts the outflow of mucus in the sinuses and that is why an infection that gets into the nasal sinus can move to the orbit. Inflammation of the eyes may not be purulent, but it may be purulent. You should pay attention to the following factors:
• too red and swollen eyelids

painful sensations that occur when pressing on the eye socket

eye movements are impaired or painful purulent inflammation is always accompanied by an increase in body temperature. It is possible that the inflammatory process that began in the sinuses will spread to

organ of hearing.

In such cases, a disease called “otitis media” occurs. This complication is quite painful, complex and difficult to get rid of in a short time. Otitis media causes an increase in temperature, and the child’s condition deteriorates sharply.

Sometimes the symptoms do not manifest themselves strongly, but they can make the child feel health problems and reduce his activity.

location of the sinuses Purulent otitis is characterized by increased body temperature and greatly worsens the general condition of the patient. However, there are also cases when the symptoms of otitis are not expressed and occur hidden. But mostly the child feels severe ear pain and headache. One of the worst consequences and complications of sinusitis is

osteoperiostitis

. This is a complex inflammatory process of the bone. It occurs because the inflammatory process gradually moves from the mucous membrane to the bone tissue. This process is very dangerous for the child's health.

Osteoperiostitis is distinguished as both purulent and simple. This complication can only be treated with antibiotics. treatment of sinusitis, complications

It is not uncommon for people who self-treat sinusitis in their children to not complete treatment for the disease. This is why complications arise. Untreated sinusitis easily turns into chronic. In fact, the infection is not completely eliminated and over time can cause complications such as

• disease meningitis.
• Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges. It is characterized by symptoms such as:
• acute reaction to loud noise and bright light

It is possible to cure meningitis, but it is quite difficult. It is not always possible to get the necessary medicine. since it is produced abroad.

How to treat sinusitis in a child at home?

• Every treatment for sinusitis, and even what is done at home, must be fully agreed with the doctor. This is a desirable recommendation to avoid complications during treatment. Most often, home treatment serves as a good complement to traditional medical treatment.
• Remember that any treatment of sinusitis, both purulent and simple, can lead to serious complications: meningitis, cerebral edema or sepsis
• Treatment of sinusitis at home is effective only for mild forms of the disease. Such procedures are not complicated and anyone can do them.
• Most often, treatment consists of instilling medicinal liquids into the nasal sinus: an infusion of green tea, for example. It has a good anti-inflammatory effect, just like freshly squeezed carrot juice

sinus condition with sinusitis

To instill the medicine into the nose, properly prepare the child for this:

1. Position the child comfortably so that the baby's head is directed towards the blocked nostril or nostril where the medicine should be instilled
2. Using a pipette, draw up a small amount of medication and gently place a small amount into your sinus
3. You can repeat the procedure with the next nostril a few minutes later, carefully turning the child’s head to the other side

Folk remedy for sinusitis in children

Folk remedies are effective in treating sinusitis if the treatment is carried out correctly and the methods are time-tested.

One of the most proven folk methods, the so-called “grandmother’s method,” which we were treated with in childhood, is potato inhalation. For treatment you need:

1. Boil one not small potato in its jacket, you can boil several at once
2. A pan of boiled potatoes without water should be placed on a table, chair or any other high surface
3. The child should be placed at the same level as the pan
4. Explain to your child that he needs to breathe in potato vapor as long and deeply as possible and inhale hot air through his mouth and nose at the same time.

swelling of the sinuses with sinusitis

Inhalation of propolis will not be superfluous. To do this, add a few drops of propolis to a bowl of boiling water and breathe in the vapor until the water cools down. Propolis can also be used for instillation into the nose.

Any sinusitis cannot be started, be it unilateral or bilateral. If you start treating bilateral sinusitis, it will inevitably lead to serious consequences. If symptoms are detected, you should immediately consult a doctor to avoid turning simple sinusitis into chronic.

Bilateral sinusitis is an inflammatory process that affects both sides of the sinuses at once. Of course, this form of the disease is more complex and its consequences are more severe.

The most important symptom indicating the presence of the disease is severe swelling in the cheekbones, cheeks, forehead and teeth. Very often, bilateral sinusitis is accompanied by severe headaches and jaw pain, which intensify while eating. The cheeks may turn red, and the body temperature of the sick person rises.

Bilateral sinusitis can be diagnosed using:

• X-ray is not the best way for children; the image may not be clear
• puncture - by piercing the sinus itself and sucking out the pus, this is a painful procedure performed under anesthesia
• diaphanoscopy - transillumination of the sinuses with a special lamp, this is a painless and safest method

In case of bilateral sinusitis, the doctor prescribes treatment: acupuncture, lavage, antibiotics, a catheter to reduce pressure in the nose, ultraviolet light and laser therapy.

Treatment of sinusitis with antibiotics: names of medications

Poor health and severe pain force doctors to prescribe antibiotics to treat sinusitis:

One of the most common drugs is Macropen. The active substance “midecamycin” actively fights the infection that provokes sinusitis. The medicine should be taken strictly according to the instructions, taking into account the doctor’s recommendations and only after food.

macropen - a cure for sinusitis

Another drug - "Augmentin". It is based on penicillin. A very strong antibiotic that should not be taken without a doctor's recommendation. The drug has a strong effect on the gastrointestinal tract and should not be used for more than two weeks.

Augmentin - a cure for sinusitis

Sumamed - the most popular antibiotic used today. Used to treat sinusitis in children and adults.

sumamed - a cure for sinusitis

Ceftriaxone - injections. Antibiotic for the treatment of infectious diseases. Has contraindications. used mainly to treat sinusitis.

ceftriaxone - a medicine for sinusitis

Cefazolin - semisynthetic antibiotic. Has a strong antimicrobial effect. It has an effect on the gastrointestinal tract and can also cause an allergic reaction.

Cefazolin - a medicine for sinusitis

Puncture for sinusitis in children, why do they do a puncture?

If drug treatment does not produce results, the doctor prescribes a puncture - puncturing the maxillary sinus and sucking out the pus.

If the pus is not pumped out in time, in addition to severe pain, the inflammatory process can have many negative effects on the child’s health and lead to serious complications. If you observe a rise in temperature in your child. poor passage of mucus in the nose and even an unpleasant odor - you should urgently seek treatment.

The pain of the procedure and its consequences depend only on how professional the doctor is. The puncture is done only in the nasal sinus. Correct manipulations should completely prevent infection during the procedure. If the puncture is done professionally, it will invariably lead to a positive result.

Of course, this procedure is one of the most unpleasant, but it really helps and allows the patient to avoid long-term use of antibiotics. Basically, the piercing procedure takes place without consequences for the patient and the hole from the injection quickly heals within a month. The puncture site does not require special care.

Useful prevention of sinusitis in children of any age

Prevention of sinusitis should be carried out for any infectious disease, regardless of whether your nose is stuffy or not.

prevention of sinusitis in children

Prevention is simple and requires simple measures:

• Eat as many vitamins and microelements as possible, this improves immunity.
• In the cool season, try not to freeze and be sure to wear a hat
• If you have a cold, never let your nose runny
• Check your dental and dental health regularly
• Humidify the air in your living space
• Learn special massage exercises for the face

Video: “Sinusitis, Dr. Komarovsky’s school”

Usually, sinusitis, especially in children, is perceived as a very serious and dangerous disease, which, if not treated in time, can “ensure” the child’s lifelong suffering due to a severe runny nose and unbearable pain in the sinuses. Is it really? What kind of sinusitis are there? And which one is most dangerous for children?

Sinusitis in children: everything has its time and place

The human body is designed in such a way that from the moment of inhalation until the moment air enters the lungs, this same air must have time to warm up to the required temperature, be moistened and purified. In fact, it looks like this: no matter what air we inhale (be it the sultry and hot air of the desert or, on the contrary, the frosty air of the Siberian taiga), the air that “gets” to the very bottom of our lungs will always be the same - it will have body temperature and one hundred percent humidity. Naturally, the air directly in the nose does not have time to warm up, become moisturized, or cleanse itself.

This is precisely why we have sinuses in our facial bones - special cavities - by lingering in them for a while, the air has time to reach the desired “condition” (warm, moisturize and, to some extent, purify). And only after being in the sinuses, the “processed” air moves further, along the respiratory tract to the lungs.

When a child has a runny nose (in medical terms, sinusitis), inflammation and increased secretion of mucus occurs throughout the entire nasal cavity, in all sinuses at the same time, because there is no isolation between them. Thus, with a runny nose in the first days of the disease, the child demonstrates both symptoms of sinusitis (inflammation of the maxillary sinus) and symptoms of frontal sinusitis (inflammation of the frontal sinus). However, all these symptoms go away safely at exactly the same time as the runny nose goes away. And only in one case out of a hundred does sinusitis develop into a form that is truly dangerous to the child’s health...

However, the facial sinuses themselves (frontal, maxillary and the so-called ethmoidal labyrinth) are formed in people not at the time of birth, but much later. For example, newborn children do not have frontal sinuses at all - they are fully formed only by the age of 10-12 years. And the maxillary sinus in children under five years of age is almost embryonic in size.

Due to these anatomical features, children under the age of 3-4 years generally do not experience any sinusitis. And frontal sinuses (inflammation of the frontal sinuses) do not occur even longer - until about 8-10 years.

Runny nose and sinusitis: what is the connection?

Children (and adults too) often experience a runny nose - inflammation of the mucous membrane and swelling. For example, at or at . Unnoticed by us, this same swelling and this same inflammation also affects the sinuses, because the nasal cavity is a single space in which normally there are no isolated corners.

To the surprise of parents, there is no difference between a runny nose and sinusitis in children. Nature arranges it in such a way that immediately after inhalation, the air first enters the child’s so-called sinuses - in other words, the sinuses. The maxillary sinus, well known to everyone by the diagnosis “sinusitis,” is also one of the sinuses of the nose.

Therefore, to be precise, sinusitis in children is essentially just one of the varieties of sinusitis - that is, an inflammatory process in the sinuses.

Sinusitis in 99 cases out of 100 is just a special case of sinusitis. Which does not threaten the child’s health with any complications or consequences.

Let's imagine: a child took another breath, and with the air a certain viral infection rushed into his body (the same one that usually causes 99% of acute respiratory viral infections in children). First of all, it enters the nasal cavity. However, in nature there cannot be a situation in which the virus would settle on the nasal mucosa, but would not penetrate and begin to “be active” in the sinuses, including the maxillary sinus.

All sinuses are a single complex - if the virus enters the nasal cavity, it penetrates all sinuses at the same time. And if inflammation begins somewhere, it will also develop simultaneously in all nasal cavities.

If a child has a runny nose, this, by definition, “guarantees” that this same child also has acute viral sinusitis and often frontal sinusitis. In essence, these “sores” are like twin brothers, they cannot exist one without the other: in each sinus there is inflammation, which simply has its own name, and all together they constitute ordinary sinusitis (runny nose).

Popular children's doctor, Dr. Komarovsky: “If a hundred children with a runny nose in the first days of the development of ARVI take a picture of the nasal cavity, all hundreds will have sinusitis. But there's nothing wrong with that! This is a completely normal phenomenon during a respiratory viral infection. Such sinusitis does not require treatment - it will go away on its own as soon as the runny nose goes away.”

It’s too early to rejoice: sinusitis and sinusitis are different

Essentially, the word “sinusitis” means an inflammatory process in the maxillary sinus. However, it can be caused not only by a viral infection (as in the case of the runny nose, which we discussed above). In addition, the “causative agents” of sinusitis (that is, the culprits of inflammation in the maxillary sinus) can also be bacteria and allergens.

Thus, sinusitis in children can be viral, bacterial or allergic origin. Just like the runny nose itself.

When an allergic rhinitis occurs in a child (as well as in an adult), allergic sinusitis naturally occurs - after all, if swelling occurs in the nasal cavity, it is not localized only somewhere in one “corner”, it spreads to all the sinuses at once.

AND viral and allergic sinusitis pass easily, without any consequences or complications, exactly at the same time as the runny nose itself goes away.

But with bacterial sinusitis(the most difficult and dangerous of all!) the situation is slightly different. As a rule, bacterial (that is, essentially purulent) sinusitis occurs when the maxillary sinus is deprived of natural ventilation. Namely: air enters the maxillary sinus through a thin tubule (and also leaves it) - that is, this cavity is constantly “ventilated”. However, if this thin tube (air channel) suddenly becomes clogged, for example, with a lump of dried mucus, then air stops flowing into the cavity. In such a “locked” environment, bacteria immediately begin to multiply, which, with the air, periodically enter any sinuses of the nose, including the maxillary sinus. Bacteria multiply and pus forms. This is the beginning of purulent sinusitis, which, unlike viral or allergic sinusitis, can actually be considered as a serious complication against the background of another disease (for example, ARVI).

If viral and allergic sinusitis often go away on their own - simultaneously with recovery from a general illness (from ARVI or an allergy attack), then purulent sinusitis almost always requires serious and surgical therapy.

Sinusitis, which goes away within three weeks, is commonly called sharp(acute viral, acute allergic, acute bacterial). If the maxillary sinuses are not cleared of pus within 21 days, sinusitis should already be considered chronic.

Symptoms of bacterial sinusitis in children

The symptoms of viral and allergic sinusitis are similar to the symptoms of a common runny nose. But when the channel supplying air to the maxillary sinus is blocked and bacteria begin to multiply and accumulate in it (roughly speaking, the sinus is filled with pus), the first signs of classic bacterial sinusitis appear:

• Nasal congestion;
• Impaired sense of smell (temporarily the baby will not be able to distinguish odors);
• Fever;
• Pain in the maxillary sinuses.

The most important and main sign of bacterial (purulent) sinusitis in children is severe aching pain in the maxillary sinuses, which increases significantly when bending forward.

It is very important to understand that radiography of the nasal cavity is not a method for diagnosing bacterial sinusitis. The picture will only indicate that there is some filling in the maxillary sinuses. But what exactly has accumulated there - just excess mucus, or dangerous purulent clots - an x-ray, alas, cannot recognize.

Throughout the civilized world, the diagnosis of bacterial sinusitis (and the rest are not even considered serious ailments, being essentially an ordinary runny nose) occurs only on the basis of symptoms: runny nose, high temperature and aching, constant pain that intensifies when bending over.

How to treat sinusitis in children

Treatment of viral sinusitis

Let us remind you that viral sinusitis in a child is the same as a runny nose. If there are all the signs of ARVI, but there is no strong aching pain in the sinus area, which sharply intensifies when bending forward, then a runny nose in such a child can be safely called viral sinusitis, or vice versa, sinusitis - a runny nose. Viral sinusitis does not require any special treatment - it will go away on its own along with ARVI.

Treatment of allergic sinusitis

Allergic sinusitis is caused not by the activity of viruses or bacteria, but by swelling of the mucous membrane during an allergic reaction. As soon as you eliminate the allergen and carry out antihistamine therapy, the swelling will decrease, and so will the runny nose (aka allergic sinusitis).

Antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial sinusitis

The most reasonable and adequate method of treating acute bacterial sinusitis in a child is antimicrobial therapy. However, do not forget: antibiotics have the right to prescribe not by parents, not relatives and not neighbors, but by qualified doctors and only them!

Alas, the doses of antibiotics in the treatment of sinusitis in children are usually large - and even the course itself is not the traditional 7 days, but 10-14. The fact is that for effective treatment of sinusitis, it is necessary that the required concentration of the drug accumulates not in the blood, but in the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinus itself.

Therefore, if you have started treatment for sinusitis with a course of antimicrobial drugs, do not interrupt it under any circumstances, even if you observe a noticeable improvement in the child’s condition.

In modern therapy against purulent sinusitis, painful injections of antibiotics are no longer used. And they use drugs in tablets.

Chronic sinusitis in a child

As a rule, within 21 days acute sinusitis (any: viral, allergic, and the most severe - bacterial) is cured. Otherwise, doctors attribute the definition of “chronic” to it. However, modern pediatricians are inclined to believe that a child cannot have chronic sinusitis as such - there must be some compelling condition that “fuels” the inflammatory process. The most likely conditions are:

• 1 There is an unidentified allergen in the child’s environment - it is this that provokes constant swelling of the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity, including the maxillary sinus. And until this allergen is identified and eliminated, the child will have signs of sinusitis (either weakening or intensifying).
• 2 The bacteria that caused purulent inflammation in the maxillary sinus turned out to be resistant to the antibiotics used to treat sinusitis (this often happens in cases where a child is given antibiotics “for no reason” - for example, during ARVI, in order to prevent the development of pneumonia).

If the treatment of sinusitis was adequate and correct, then the disease should recede within a maximum of 21 days.

Puncture in the treatment of acute bacterial sinusitis

There are situations in which pus in the sinus accumulates too quickly (bacteria multiply too actively), the child suffers from terrible pain, experiencing temperature “overload,” and antibiotic treatment does not bring a positive result. In such extraordinary conditions, the question arises - how to quickly eliminate the abscess from the sinus before a rupture occurs? Until recently, doctors solved this problem with the help of a special puncture - through the nose with a sharp and long needle they penetrated the maxillary sinus and washed it, freeing it from accumulated pus.

A puncture in the maxillary sinus area is a painful and unpleasant procedure, especially for a child. But in situations where antibiotics do not work, this becomes the only way to save the baby from unbearable pain and the risk of rupture of the abscess.

Meanwhile, in fairness, it is worth noting that in recent years, domestic medicine has been using punctures of the maxillary sinus less and less often to treat sinusitis - there are already modern antibacterial drugs that can quickly alleviate a child’s condition with this disease.

However, often these days, a puncture in the sinus area is used for the most accurate diagnosis - using this technique, a puncture is taken from the sinus in order to determine which bacteria caused the inflammation.

Parents should realize and believe that there is no tragedy in the diagnosis of “sinusitis”. Two types of this disease - viral and allergic sinusitis - are generally akin to an ordinary runny nose and do not require any special treatment. Their bacterial “brother” is much more insidious and dangerous - this is true. But it is also a banal “sore”, which, with adequate and timely treatment, goes away quickly and without consequences.

Children are much more likely than adults to be exposed to infectious diseases. Sinusitis is a complex inflammatory process that develops on the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinus.

The disease has its own classification, symptoms and occurs for certain reasons.

If sinusitis is diagnosed in children, how to treat the disease and with what methods, the doctor must decide in order to prevent unwanted complications.

This disease is characterized by an inflammatory process localized in the maxillary sinus.

The maxillary sinus communicates through the outlet with the nasal cavity, so inflammatory processes occurring in the nose will necessarily affect the cavity of the maxillary sinus.

Taking into account the characteristics of the child’s body, an ordinary runny nose will certainly lead to negative deviations in the maxillary sinus.

Therefore, it is true that there is no runny nose without sinusitis.

There are different forms of this disease, some of which require immediate and qualified treatment, while others disappear on their own without consequences, after some time.

Often the occurrence of sinusitis in children is explained by the action of viruses, especially in autumn and winter, when the body's defenses weaken and the infection easily penetrates the body.

Having penetrated the body, viruses destroy the nasal mucosa, causing swelling. As a result of edema, an obstruction to the outflow of fluid occurs. Mucus accumulates inside the sinuses and makes it difficult to breathe through the nose.

What are the maxillary sinuses?

The skull of young children has some differences from the structure of the skull of adults:

1. In children under 3 years of age, the bottom of the maxillary sinus is located slightly higher than in an adult.
2. In newborns, the maxillary sinus is represented by a narrow slit, which, as the child develops, constantly expands and eventually acquires normal outlines.
3. From about 16 years of age, sinusitis develops in the same way as in an adult.
4. A change in the shape and functionality of the maxillary sinus occurs by the age of 4 years. Until the age of four, there is no need to talk about sinusitis.
5. Full development of the sinus ends by 17–19 years.

Functions

The maxillary sinus has the following functions:

• air-bearing axillary cavities reduce the weight of the skull bones;
• as a result of facial injuries, performs an anti-shock role;
• humidify, clean and warm the inhaled air;
• form individual resonance of speech;
• protect cold-sensitive structures when inhaling and exhaling;
• There are cells in the sinus that are sensitive to changes in pressure.

Children require high-quality air to breathe because their sinuses are not fully formed and are not able to cope with the above functions. In this regard, any cold weather can cause nasal congestion.

Causes of sinusitis in children

The main causes of sinusitis in children are:

• Viral respiratory infections;
• Sometimes illness can occur due to injury;
• Pathologies of the dental system;
• Deviations in the functioning of the endocrine system.

Children's sinusitis most often occurs in a catarrhal form - without pus. This type of sinusitis does not require treatment; it will go away on its own, along with a runny nose.

In older children, a purulent form of sinusitis may occur. This disease cannot be cured on its own; qualified treatment will be required.

Colds and allergic rhinitis in an advanced form can also cause the development of childhood sinusitis. It usually affects children with weakened immune systems.

Adenoids may also well cause sinusitis, as they can impair nasal breathing.

The most common causes of this disease are the following:

• too thick septum in the nose;
• the nasal septum is deviated;
• the nasal turbinates are hypertrophied;

To quickly cure a disease, you need to know exactly the cause of its occurrence, which are as follows:

Types of sinusitis

Depending on the form of this disease, there may be characteristic symptoms related to a specific type of disease.

The classification of forms of sinusitis and their symptoms depend on a number of factors.

The stage of the disease may be as follows:

• Acute sinusitis. It has well-defined symptoms, especially in terms of the severity of pain.
• Chronic form. To prevent the transition of the acute form of the disease to this stage, it is necessary to begin treatment on time. Symptoms in the chronic form are not so pronounced; periods of remission are followed by relapses. Chronic sinusitis is dangerous because as a result of it, irreversible negative changes occur in the nasal cavity, due to which the nasal mucosa loses all protection.

According to the localization of inflammation, childhood sinusitis is:

• unilateral, when only one sinus is inflamed;
• bilateral, when both nasal sinuses are affected by the infection.

According to the type of inflammatory process, sinusitis in children is classified as follows:

• Catarrhal type of disease. Refers to the acute form of sinusitis. As a result of the disease, bone, periosteum or bone tissue may be affected. The disease occurs without the formation of pus in the maxillary sinuses.
• Purulent stage. With this disease, the nasal mucosa is very inflamed, and a large amount of viscous pus mixed with blood flows from the nose. Purulent sinusitis is easy to recognize by its offensive smell. Pain and high body temperature are also present. This stage is characterized by the manifestation of symptoms of acute and chronic sinusitis, but the symptoms are much more pronounced.

Bilateral sinusitis

The disease is quite difficult. Nasal congestion, however, may not bother the child much, because the accumulation of mucus in the sinuses causes a feeling of weakness, severe headaches, a rapid increase in temperature and fever.

If left untreated, bilateral sinusitis will inevitably cause severe consequences. If you have symptoms, you must urgently seek the help of a doctor, otherwise simple sinusitis will turn into chronic.

Important! Bilateral sinusitis is an inflammatory process that affects both sinuses. This form of the disease is more complex and its consequences are more severe.

Symptoms:

• The most important symptom of this type of sinusitis is severe swelling in the cheekbones, cheeks, forehead and teeth.
• This disease occurs with severe headaches and jaw pain, aggravated by eating.
• The patient's cheeks turn red and body temperature rises.

Bilateral sinusitis is diagnosed using:

• x-ray;
• punctures;
• diaphanoscopy.

Unilateral

Unilateral sinusitis is an inflammatory process of the mucous membrane that occurs in one of the maxillary sinuses. Painful sensations, in this case, occur on the side of the nose that is affected by the disease.

The symptoms of childhood sinusitis are usually confused with a trivial cold, but when the disease progresses to the purulent stage, the symptoms of the disease are more pronounced:

First signs

Typically, the initial signs of childhood sinusitis do not appear immediately. They can be observed when the disease begins to progress.

First of all, inflammation of the maxillary sinuses is signaled by the following signs:

Treatment of childhood sinusitis should begin immediately after the first symptoms appear. Children's immune systems are very weak and cannot effectively resist infection. Therefore, pathogenic microflora develops rapidly in the child’s maxillary sinuses.

Symptoms of acute sinusitis

In children, acute sinusitis appears unexpectedly and usually after suffering from influenza, measles, colds with runny nose, scarlet fever and other infectious diseases.

This form of sinusitis has symptoms characteristic of all types of this disease, such as:

• elevated temperature,
• nasal congestion,
• general weakness of the body.

But there are also additional signs by which this form is diagnosed as acute sinusitis - the child complains of an ongoing headache, which can spread to the forehead or gums.

Symptoms of chronic sinusitis

The acute form of the disease can turn into chronic due to frequent recurrences of the disease, adenoiditis, crooked nasal septum, weakening of the body's defenses, and unprofessional treatment of an inflammatory disease.

The signs of chronic sinusitis are similar to acute sinusitis, but there are a number of signs that are characteristic only of the chronic form of the disease.

The main symptoms of chronic sinusitis include:

Diagnosis of sinusitis in children

Before starting treatment for childhood sinusitis, the doctor prescribes the necessary diagnostic procedures and then prescribes medications to treat the disease.

To determine the correct diagnosis, the following methods are used:

Treatment of sinusitis in children

Treatment of childhood sinusitis is carried out according to various schemes, taking into account the stage of the disease, the presence of complications and the state of health of the baby.

Below are the main therapeutic areas of treatment.

Nasal rinsing

It happens like this:

• Rinsing the nose with salt solutions. For this purpose, they use products such as Salin, Aquamaris, sold in pharmacies. Wetting the nasal cavity slightly eliminates swelling, moisturizes the mucous membrane, and helps remove mucus from the maxillary sinuses. This technique practically does not lead to side effects.
• Rinsing the nose with antiseptic solutions. In practice, saline solution or furacillin are often used for this. This technique has shown good results in the treatment of catarrhal sinusitis in children aged 8 to 10 years. But it is forbidden to use it to treat the purulent stage of the disease, because the infection can get into the middle ear.
• Nasal lavage using the Proetz fluid movement method. This procedure is performed by an ENT doctor, with the assistance of an assistant. The small patient is placed on the couch and the doctor pours the rinsing solution into one nostril. The assistant, at this time, uses a special device to suck out the infused liquid from the second nostril.

Antibiotics

Antibacterial agents are successfully used to stop purulent inflammation in the maxillary sinus. If there is a shortage of time, studies on axillary flora and sensitivity to antibiotics are not carried out, but resort to the use of broad-spectrum drugs.

• Macropen. Contains the active substance midecamycin, which can suppress the infection that causes sinusitis;
• Augmentin. The drug is based on penicillin. It is a potent antibiotic that is taken only on the recommendation of a doctor. The drug has side effects on the gastrointestinal tract and therefore is used for no more than 2 weeks.
• Sumamed. Widely used antibiotic. It is used to treat sinusitis in children and adults.
• Ceftriaxone - injections. Gives a good effect in the treatment of infectious diseases, including sinusitis.
• Cefazolin– semisynthetic antibiotic. Has a strong antimicrobial effect. It has side effects on the gastrointestinal tract and can cause allergies in the patient.

In addition to antibiotics, the treatment regimen for childhood sinusitis sometimes includes antihistamines:

• Fenistil
• Loratadine.

Nasal drops

To eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of sinusitis, vasoconstrictor children's nasal drops are also used, such as:

• Nazol-baby,
• Vibrocil.

Drops can provide temporary relief from illness, but have some contraindications.

They cannot be used for a long time, as this can lead to chronic pathologies in the nasal mucosa. Any such drugs can be used for 1 - 2 weeks, and then take a break.

Ointments for sinusitis

At home, you can cure sinusitis without a puncture using ointments included in the complex treatment.

We are talking about ointments such as:

• Vishnevsky ointment. Promptly and effectively relieves the inflammatory process of sinusitis. In addition, it has disinfecting, wound-healing and regenerating properties. Used at any stage of the disease three times a day after rinsing the sinuses.
• Fleming's ointment. It is classified as a homeopathic remedy. The ointment has anti-edema, anti-inflammatory, and vasoconstrictor effects. It helps normalize breathing through the nose and prevents rupture of capillaries and bleeding from the maxillary sinuses.
• Ichthyol ointment. It perfectly relieves inflammation and has antiseptic and antipruritic effects. But you must use the ointment carefully, as it can cause allergies on the face and nasal mucosa. This ointment should not be used in acute cases of the disease, since the product has a warming effect.
• Oxolinic ointment. The drug has a pronounced therapeutic effect. It is able to deactivate pathogenic viruses that cause sinusitis.

Physiotherapy

This procedure is used to enhance the outflow of a mixture of mucus and pus from the sinuses, normalize blood circulation and lymph flow, and also to reduce the inflammatory process.

The most commonly used methods are:

• laser therapy;
• magnetic therapy;
• ultrasound treatment;
• ultra-high frequency exposure (UHF).

The choice of treatment method remains with the physiotherapist. Only he can choose the right treatment method, based on the characteristics of the patient’s disease and its contraindications.

Treatment of chronic sinusitis in children (puncture)

In case of severe purulent processes occurring in the sinuses, as well as when the natural outflow is disrupted, if complications arise and difficulties in making a diagnosis, the doctor prescribes a puncture of the maxillary sinus.

When performing this operation, the patient is given local anesthesia, and then through the lower nasal passage, the sinus is punctured with a special needle.

The contents of the sinus are sucked out, and then it is washed with an antiseptic solution. If necessary, drainage is left in the sinus for repeated rinsing.

Traditional methods

Some parents themselves treat this disease in their children, using aloe juice, beets, Kalanchoe and other remedies. In addition, they use baby nose massage and special breathing exercises.

Such treatment is acceptable, but it must be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. Otherwise, complications may arise and the child’s body will be harmed. It is better if treatment at home becomes an addition to traditional therapy.

Home treatment gives a positive effect only for mild forms of the disease.

Recipes:

Complications of sinusitis in children

After sinusitis, children may experience various complications that vary in location and severity:

Often, parents who independently treat sinusitis in their children do not complete the treatment. This can also lead to complications. Untreated sinusitis easily turns into a chronic form or even meningitis.

Forecast

Sinusitis requires qualified treatment.

You cannot leave it as it is and it is unacceptable to self-medicate.

A patient with sinusitis should be treated by an otolaryngologist.

Only an experienced doctor will be able to provide effective assistance in a timely and high-quality manner.

Without treatment, serious complications will inevitably arise. This is especially true for patients with weak immune systems - elderly citizens and children.

The sooner the patient begins treatment for sinusitis, the more favorable the prognosis. Even in advanced cases, the use of conservative and surgical treatment methods can achieve complete recovery. Recovery from acute sinusitis may take from several days to 2 weeks.

The prognosis for chronic sinusitis, which occurs without complications, is also quite favorable and usually depends on the duration of the process and morphological changes. The prognosis for sinusitis with complications is completely determined by the nature of the complication.

If complex therapy has not been used, the risk of complications increases, such as:

• orbital abscess;
• meningitis;
• acute otitis;
• sepsis;
• bronchitis;
• pneumonia.

Prevention

In order for your child to avoid a disease such as sinusitis, you need to strengthen his immunity. This can be helped by proper nutrition, reasonable physical activity and hardening the body.

Conclusion

A healthy environment, a balanced diet, reasonable exercise and constant walks in the fresh air.

And if your child is nevertheless diagnosed with sinusitis, you should strictly follow all the instructions of the attending physician in order to get rid of the disease as soon as possible.

Content

Infectious diseases are often diagnosed in children and adults, but young patients suffer from such ailments much more often. Sinusitis in children - symptoms and treatment, refers to an inflammatory disease that affects the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinus. Pathology is classified into several types, has certain symptoms and causes. Diagnosis of the disease and its treatment in children should be carried out exclusively by a qualified physician in order to avoid complications.

What is sinusitis in children

One of the types of sinusitis, the peculiarity of which is inflammation of the maxillary (maxillary) sinus, is sinusitis. The sinuses are located in the thickness of the maxillary bone; they have common walls with the oral, nasal cavities, and orbits. Often this disease is triggered by an infection in the respiratory system. According to medical statistics, children are more likely to suffer from the disease than adults. Infants under one year old, as well as from 1 to 3-4 years old, do not develop this disease. This fact can be explained very simply: babies’ skulls and maxillary sinuses have not yet been formed.

Various viruses play an important role in the development of sinusitis in a child. The disease “activates” during the cold season, when the immune system is especially weakened and the infection easily enters the body. The disease develops as follows: the virus destroys the protection of the nasal mucosa, causing it to swell. As a result, an obstacle appears to the normal outflow of fluid from the maxillary sinuses. It accumulates inside and causes a pathological process.

Signs

In order to recognize the disease in time and avoid complications, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with its signs in advance. Often the symptoms are confused with the classic cold, but when it begins to actively develop, obvious specific symptoms appear. The first signs of inflammation of the maxillary sinuses and age-dependent symptoms are described below.

First signs

According to statistics, the initial signs of childhood sinusitis do not appear immediately. They can be noticed when the disease has already developed significantly. The main initial “signals” of inflammation of the maxillary sinuses are:

• pain near the nasolabial fold with slight pressure on it or when tilting the head;
• pain in the inner corner of the eye when gently pressing on a point in the center of the cheek;
• one-sided or two-sided nasal congestion;
• noticeable swelling of the lower eyelids and cheeks;
• inflammatory process on the eyelids, tearing;
• toothache;
• pus and mucus in the sinuses (they may not come out);
• increase in body temperature;
• drowsiness, lethargy, general malaise.

Signs of sinusitis in children aged three to five years:

• severe intoxication of the body;
• partial or complete loss of appetite occurs;
• whims, apathy, decreased activity;
• another symptom is copious discharge of pus from the sinuses;
• swelling of the cheeks, upper and/or lower eyelids on the side of the inflammatory process.

Symptoms between the ages of five and seven years:

• pain radiating to the eyes, forehead, bridge of the nose, teeth, eye sockets, eyebrows;
• significant headache, sometimes caused by bright light or tilting the head to the side;
• mucous discharge from the nasal cavity or, on the contrary, its absence;
• how to recognize sinusitis in a child - a severe cough, attacks of which often worsen at night;
• partial or complete loss of smell.

Symptoms of chronic sinusitis

The acute form turns into chronic after frequent relapses of the disease, adenoiditis, deviated nasal septum, weakened immunity, illiterate treatment of the inflammatory disease. The main symptoms of chronic sinusitis may include:

• weakness, fatigue;
• the appearance of difficulties with inhaling and exhaling air through the nasal cavity;
• watery, mucous or purulent discharge from the sinuses;
• there may be a feeling of unpleasant odor;
• another symptom is headaches in the forehead;
• the temperature in children with chronic sinusitis may be normal or rise to low levels;
• Another sign of the disease is a feeling of fullness or pressure near the inflamed maxillary sinus; with strong pressure on this area, significant discomfort is observed.

Causes

There are a number of main reasons that provoke the development of the disease and its symptoms in children:

1. Runny nose caused by allergies. As a rule, irritating substances cause allergic rhinitis, which develops into sinusitis. In most cases, the disease causes significant swelling of the maxillary sinus.
2. ARI, ARVI, influenza. If a child has a cold, then the outflow of mucus becomes problematic. An infection enters the nose, which provokes the development of sinusitis.
3. Malfunction of blood vessels. Sometimes the cause of inflammation of the sinuses is decreased vascular tone. Blood circulation in the respiratory tract is disrupted and infection develops.
4. Genetic pathologies of the sinuses.
5. Diseases in the mouth (caries, stomatitis).
6. Injuries, bruises, fractures of the nasal septum and similar injuries.
7. Inflammation of the adenoids also often causes the development of the disease.
8. A weak immune system is ideal for attacking viruses that cause illness. The body is deprived of protection, so the disease develops very actively.

Kinds

The classification of types of sinusitis and its symptoms depend on several factors. The main ones will be discussed below. So, the disease according to its stage is as follows:

1. Acute sinusitis in children. It has vivid symptoms, especially pain.
2. Chronic form of the disease. To prevent the acute form from progressing to this stage, it is necessary to carry out timely treatment. The symptoms in this case are less pronounced, remissions alternate with relapses. The main danger of a chronic type of disease is irreversible changes in the nasal mucosa, due to which it loses its protective abilities.

According to the localization of the inflammatory process, the disease is:

• unilateral (only one sinus is inflamed);
• bilateral (infection occurs in both nasal sinuses).

The classification of sinusitis in a child according to the type of inflammation looks like this:

1. Catarrhal type of disease. This stage is acute; in some cases, the inflammatory process affects the bone, periosteum or bone tissue. The main difference between catarrhal is the absolute absence of pus in the sinuses.
2. Purulent stage. The name speaks for itself. The nasal mucosa becomes very inflamed, and pus is discharged profusely from the nose.

Diagnostics

Before treating sinusitis in a child, you need to see a doctor who will prescribe all the necessary diagnostic measures and prescribe medications for effective treatment of the disease. As a rule, to make a correct diagnosis in children, the following methods are used:

1. Inspection of the nasal openings.
2. Research to identify the allergic nature of the disease.
3. General blood analysis.
4. X-ray of the nose. This method allows you to see the disease, as indicated by darkening in the image.
5. Diaphanoscopy is the examination of the maxillary sinuses using a special electric lamp. If one or both sinuses are filled with pus, then diaphanoscopy will help to quickly identify this.
6. CT (computed tomography) gives a chance to study the nasal passages in detail. CT scanning can detect early symptoms of sinusitis or signs of its chronic form.
7. Another diagnostic method is examination of nasal discharge, which determines the causative agent of the infection.

Treatment of sinusitis in children

Before prescribing therapy, a qualified specialist always finds out the causes of sinusitis in children and assesses the severity of the disease. Today, conservative and surgical treatment methods are used. The first option includes the use of medications, physical therapy, and so on. Surgery for sinusitis in a child is carried out in the most critical situation. The main medications for the treatment of inflammation of the maxillary sinuses are the following:

1. Antihistamines. They are able to remove swelling and significantly enhance the effect of antibiotics on the body. The most popular antihistamines are Diazolin, Suprastin, Tavegil, Loratadine, Diphenhydramine.
2. Anti-edema medications effectively facilitate breathing and eliminate swelling of the mucous membrane. Among them are Zestra, Orinol, Koldakt, Fervex, Flukold.
3. Vasoconstrictors accelerate the release of mucus from the sinuses, which has a positive effect on breathing through the nose. These include Rinazolin, Nazivin, Farmazolin, Sanorin, Naphthyzin.
4. Antiseptics are also used for treatment. Drugs such as Protargol, Collargol prevent an increase in the amount of pus in the maxillary sinuses.
5. To make mucous and purulent discharge come out of the nose more easily, doctors prescribe special thinning medications. For example, Ambroxol, Bromhexine, ACC-long.
6. If the body temperature rises too high, then it is worth using antipyretic drugs (Paracetamol, Nurofen, Ibuprofen).

Sinus rinsing

Treatment of sinusitis at home in children involves not only the use of medications, but also special rinses. This procedure can be done at home. To cleanse the maxillary sinuses with sinusitis, use a syringe with a pre-made solution (100-250 ml is administered at a time). Several washes per day will be required. The course of treatment is approximately one to two weeks. The healing solution is made from the following ingredients (1 glass of purified warm water + 1 teaspoon of medicine):

• potassium permanganate;
• saline solution of regular or sea salt;
• chamomile decoction;
• green tea;
• tinctures of string, calendula, St. John's wort;
• medicines Furacilin, Rotokan, Elekasol, Decamethoxin.

You need to know how to properly rinse your baby so as not to worsen the situation. A syringe with a solution is carefully inserted into the nostril about 1 centimeter. The patient's head is tilted slightly forward, pouring in the medicine in small doses. The jet pressure must be gradually increased. In between infusions, the child should try to blow his nose well.

Use of antibacterial drugs

Another important stage in the treatment of childhood sinusitis is taking antibacterial agents. They cope well with inflammation, helping to defeat the disease faster. The most popular and effective antibiotics are Isofra, Augmentin, Amoxicillin, Azithromycin, Bioparox. The specifics of their use are indicated in the instructions, and the duration of the course of therapy is prescribed by the attending physician. The most effective are injections with antibiotics, the second most effective are drops, suspensions, and tablets.

Physiotherapy

To successfully combat the inflammatory process, accelerate the flow of mucus and pus from the sinuses, and improve blood circulation and lymph flow, the doctor may prescribe physical therapy. The most well-known methods are considered to be laser therapy, magnetic therapy, ultrasound and UHF (ultra-high frequency treatment). Each method is prescribed by a physiotherapist. All contraindications and other nuances are taken into account, only after that the optimal procedure is selected.

Treatment of chronic sinusitis in children

In the chronic form, treatment depends on the factor that became the “catalyst” of the chronic inflammatory process. For each individual option, a specific type of therapeutic effect is prescribed:

1. Moderate surgical intervention, depending on the patient’s age and condition, is necessary in the presence of adenoids, chronic rhinitis, and a deviated nasal septum. These problems prevent the normal secretion of secretions from the sinuses, so the chronic form begins.
2. Antibiotics are also prescribed, but only after the pathogen and its sensitivity level have been identified.
3. If sinusitis and its symptoms are caused by problems in the oral cavity (for example, caries, stomatitis), then mandatory sanitation of the oral mucosa is necessary. After this, antibiotics are prescribed.
4. When sinusitis in children is in remission, it is recommended to strengthen the immune system with vitamins and exercises, attend physiotherapy, massage, and go to the sea.
5. The use of antihistamines is advisable in the case of the development of hyperplastic and polypous forms.

Folk remedies

Sometimes conservative methods are combined with traditional recipes to increase the effectiveness of the treatment process. Before starting a natural treatment option, a parent should definitely discuss this issue with a doctor to avoid unfavorable prognosis. Popular folk remedies for sinusitis in children:

1. Take one large raw carrot. Washed and peeled. Apply freshly squeezed vegetable juice to the nose three times a day. It is better to dilute a few drops of concentrated juice with a little water to avoid an allergic reaction.
2. Fresh viburnum juice is combined with honey (1:1). The resulting mixture is slightly heated. The medicine is taken orally, 1 tablespoon before meals.
3. You need to purchase ointment with propolis. Dip a cotton swab into it and insert it into the nostril as carefully as possible. Hold for 3-5 minutes.

Complications

The consequences that may appear after the disease can be divided into two types. The first of these is complications of the respiratory system:

• tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils);
• bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchi);
• chronic form;
• otitis;
• pneumonia;
• frontal sinusitis, ethmoiditis (inflammatory process in other sinuses).

Other consequences:

• myocarditis (pathologies in the heart);
• sepsis (blood poisoning);
• intracranial complications (meningitis, brain abscess);
• nephritis (kidney damage);
• The result can be a variety of joint pathologies.

Prevention

To avoid the occurrence of sinusitis and its symptoms in children, you should follow simple but effective rules. Prevention of the disease includes:

• regular visits to the dental office;
• strengthening the immune system (proper diet, hardening);
• elimination of anatomical defects (adenoids, deviated nasal septum, etc.);
• competent treatment of colds;
• the maximum possible protection of children from negative environmental factors (dust, cigarette smoke, exhaust gases).

Video: how to find out if a child has sinusitis

Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials in the article do not encourage self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give treatment recommendations based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

Found an error in the text? Select it, press Ctrl + Enter and we will fix everything!

Discuss

The first signs of sinusitis in a child - how to recognize and how to treat at home