sinusitis

Sinusitis in Children

Treatment for Acute and Chronic Sinus Infections

Sinusitis refers to inflammation and pain in the nasal cavities in the nose and around the eyes. This inflammation can be acute, also known as a sinus infection, that typically lasts 2 to 4 weeks and can be treated with antibiotics. If the infection or discomfort has not subsided in 12 weeks, your child’s condition may be chronic and require intervention from our team. If you suspect your child is experiencing sinusitis, call our team at Virginia Ear, Nose & Throat at (804) 484-3700 to schedule an appointment.

Progression of Sinusitis in Children

There are three main stages of infection in children. These are:

  • Initial infection or cold: Young children have immature immune systems and are more prone to infections of the nose, sinuses and ears. These are most frequently caused by viral infections (colds), and they may be aggravated by allergies.

  • Acute sinus infection: If your child’s symptoms continue for a week or 10 days, then they may have an acute sinus infection. This can usually be treated with antibiotics, and stuffiness can be relieved with nasal decongestants, topical nasal spray and/or nasal saline.

  • Chronic sinusitis: If your child’s symptoms continue for 12 weeks, or if they have recurrent episodes of acute sinus infections 4 to 6 times per year, they may have chronic sinusitis. Chronic inflammation requires intervention from our team at Virginia Ear, Nose & Throat to identify the root cause of your child’s symptoms and develop a customized treatment plan.

Symptoms of Sinusitis in Children

Children’s sinuses do not fully develop until age 20—and while the maxillary (behind the cheek) and ethmoid (between the eyes) sinuses are present at birth, they are very small. Sinusitis can occur both in children and adults, but it is more difficult to detect in children, as symptoms are more subtle and the causes can be more complex. The following are common signs and symptoms of sinus infections in children:

  • Headache

  • Fatigue

  • Thick, yellow or green discharge from the nose

  • Irritability and fatigue

  • Swelling around the eyes

  • A “cold” lasting more than 10 to 14 days, sometimes with a low-grade fever

  • Post-nasal drip, sometimes leading to or exhibited as sore throat, cough, bad breath, nausea and/or vomiting

Evaluation and Diagnosis

If you suspect that your child has an acute or chronic sinus infection, schedule an appointment with our team at Virginia Ear, Nose & Throat. We will perform a detailed evaluation of your child’s sinuses and take CT scans to determine how your child’s sinuses are formed, where the blockage has occurred and whether sinusitis is an appropriate diagnosis

Treatment for Sinusitis in Children

Treatment for acute or chronic sinus infections varies from child to child. While some children’s symptoms can be remedied with medication or avoidance of allergy triggers, some children with chronic infections require surgery. There are two main types of surgery that our team typically performs:

An adenoidectomy removes adenoid tissue from behind the nose. This procedure is typically used when infected adenoid tissue blocks the sinuses, leading to symptoms of sinusitis such as runny nose, stuffy nose, post-nasal drip, bad breath, cough and headache. Children typically can return to normal activities the day after this procedure.

If an adenoidectomy or management of allergies do not alleviate symptoms, our team may perform functional endoscopic sinus surgery. During this procedure, our team will use an instrument called an endoscope to open the natural drainage pathways to your child’s sinuses and make the narrow passages wider. This can be accomplished in a minimally invasive approach using balloon dilation. Opening up the airways can reduce the frequency and severity of sinus infections. During endoscopic sinus surgery, bacterial cultures can be taken to tailor the post-operative antibiotic therapy to your child’s needs.