Bacterial Sinusitis in Children

Sinusitis in children is the term pediatricians use when a child's sinuses are red, tender, swollen, at least partially filled with pus and/or mucus with sinus openings that are blocked. Dr. Alan Greene, M.D., states that every cold results in viral sinusitis and when pediatricians diagnose children with sinusitis, they are referring to bacterial sinusitis, or a bacterial infection in the sinuses.

• Symptoms of bacterial sinusitis infections in children tend to be similar to a prolonged cold.

Types

• Acute bacterial sinusitis is present for less than three to four weeks. Subacute bacterial sinusitis is present in children for up to 10 weeks while chronic baterial sinusitis is present for 10 weeks or longer.

Symptoms

• According to Dr. Greene, bacterial sinusitis symptoms in children may include: nasal secretions that are clear, yellow or green with coughing that may or may not increase during night hours. Bacterial sinusitis may also cause fever, bad breath and a sore throat. Dr. Greene states that the bacteria causing the sinus infection causes at least 50 percent of children to also develop ear infections.

Considerations

• Children with acute bacterial sinusitis have symptoms that last for ten to 14 days. Acute sinusitis infections are also characterized by clear nasal discharge and a cough that worsens at night. Cases of subacute and chronic sinusitis show minimal symptoms but include nasal discharge and an ongoing cough.

Treatment

• Acute and subacute bacterial sinusitis in children are treated with appropriate antibiotics for 14 to 21 days, while chronic bacterial sinusitis is treated for an extended period of time of at least three weeks. Saline nose drops may also be used to thin mucus and speed healing. Decongestants effectively treat symptoms but do not speed healing, while antihistamines thicken mucus and actually slow the healing process.

Prevention/Solution

• According to Dr. Greene, preventing bacterial sinusitis in children is possible by performing the same measures used for preventing ear infections and colds. Children who are prone to sinus infections benefit from the Haemophilus influenzae (Hib), measles, pneumococcus, flu and measels immunizations. Identifying and addressing allergies and irritants is also key to reducing the severity, duration and frequency of bacterial sinusitis in children.