Sinus infection (sinusitis)

What is a sinus infection?

Sinusitis is an infection of the sinuses, which are air-filled cavities behind the bones of the face.

Considered part of the respiratory system, these cavities are connected to the nose and normally let mucus easily drain out to the back of the throat.

When the sinuses become inflamed and swollen, for example with the common cold, the drainage of mucus is blocked. This leads to bacteria getting trapped in the sinuses causing the infection.

The most common bacteria that cause sinus infections are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Haemophilus influenzae.

Sinus infections are more common in adults than in children. The sinuses in young children are not completely developed, so there is less chance of infection.

Treatment / What you should do

Contact a doctor whenever you suspect your child has a sinus infection.

If your doctor confirms the sinus infection, it most likely will need to be treated with antibiotics. Make sure that your child takes the antibiotic as prescribed and completes the entire course of medicine.

Saltwater (saline) nose drops or spray will keep the mucus membranes in the nose moist and help to open up the sinuses. This will improve airflow to the sinuses and allow more drainage, which relieves pain.

Using a humidifier adds moisture to the air, which may also help. Be careful with decongestant nose drops. They can help shrink swollen tissues for the first couple of days, but must not be used for more than 3 days because the swelling and symptoms may actually get worse.

Medicines like acetaminophen or ibuprofen will help bring the fever down and relieve pain and relieve the pain at the same time. If your child has allergic rhinitis (hayfever), your doctor may recommend antihistamines.

Call the doctor whenever you think your child's condition is getting worse or if there is swelling or redness of the skin over any of the sinuses. Also contact the doctor if your child still has a fever after 2 or 3 days of antibiotic treatment.