Sinusitis

Sinusitis is one of most common health conditions in America attacking around 37 million people each year. However, this estimate could be quite a bit lower than the actual number of individuals including children because the symptoms are very similar to that of a cold or allergies. Many people normally suffer and does not even visit a physician believing that it is just their allergies acting up or that they have caught a cold.

Sinusitis is an acute bacterial infection of the sinus cavities, which is brought on by bacteria. Most of the time sinusitis attacks after the person is exposed to an irritant such as environment pollutants have an allergy attack or a cold. However, it is different from a cold or an allergy attack because you must visit your doctor and receive treatment with an antibiotic to rid your body of the infection. A cold or allergy attack is not an infection therefore treatment is not necessary and antibiotics will not cure a cold or allergy problems.

When a person has a cold or allergy problems, the sinus cavities become swollen and the mucus cannot drain properly. When this occurs, it often times leads to congestion and infection. This is when sinusitis develops.

Many people including physician in the past did not believe that children could have sinus problems, as their sinuses are not completely developed until around age 20, but recently it has been discovered that children can also suffer from sinus infections. At birth, the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses are present. The maxillary is the one behind the cheekbones and the ethmoid is the one between the eyes.

When it comes to children and sinusitis it is a bit more difficult to diagnose, since children normally have more respiratory infections and the symptoms of sinusitis may not be as prominent.

Noticing sinusitis or a sinus infection in children can be difficult however; the following symptoms should be noted and discussed with your child’s doctor.
* A cold that lasts over 10 to 14 days sometimes accompanied by a low-grade temperature
* A thick yellowish green nasal discharge
* Post-nasal drip (Your child may complain of a sore throat, cough, have bad breath, nausea and in some cases vomiting)
* For children over the age of 6 they complain of a headache
* Tiredness
* Irritability
* Puffiness around the eyes

If you notice any of these symptoms in your child then you should take them to your physician and explain that you believe it could be a sinus infection or sinusitis.