| Sinus might seem like common cold at first. The | | | | thicker mucus produced get trapped in the |
| child coughs, sneezes and gets a red nose, like in | | | | sinuses. This stagnant mucus becomes the |
| cold. But the difference is that sinus attack last | | | | breeding ground for virus, bacteria and fungi. If |
| longer than common cold. Sinuses are spaces in | | | | the common cold stretches for over two weeks, |
| the bones of the face and the head which are | | | | the sinusitis condition develops. This condition is |
| filled with air. They are exactly located on both | | | | sinus infection. Acute sinusitis is sinusitis stretching |
| sides of the nose, behind the nasal cavity, within | | | | over two weeks or so. But when it crosses three |
| the forehead, and at the back & in between | | | | months, it is called chronic sinusitis. The child can |
| the eyes. Sinuses grow in pairs and there are four | | | | get mild fever along with acute sinusitis. There is |
| pairs of them. Sinuses begin to develop in the | | | | no fever associated with chronic sinusitis and the |
| mother womb and grow till twenty years of age. | | | | symptoms are less intense. The symptoms of |
| As children have an incompletely developed | | | | sinusitis or sinus attacks are mild fever, bad |
| immune system, they catch cold infection more | | | | breath, continuous nasal discharge, puffy eyes, |
| frequently. | | | | and daytime cough. Some children also experience |
| The actual purposes of the sinuses are not | | | | low energy, crankiness, headache and pain behind |
| known, but scientists say that they make the | | | | the forehead, cheeks and eyes. |
| head lightweight as these air pockets are filled | | | | When the doctor is approached for help, he/she |
| with light air. If these air pockets were to be | | | | will check throat, nose and ears for infection. The |
| replaced with something solid, the head will | | | | sinuses are also checked. The doctor will press or |
| become heavier. The sinuses also provide tone | | | | tap on the cheeks and forehead. If bacteria are |
| and depth to the voice. That is the reason why | | | | responsible for causing the infection, the child will |
| the voice sounds funny when a person catches a | | | | be given antibiotics to kill the bacteria. The |
| cold or gets a sinus attack. The sinuses are | | | | antibiotics will show their effect within few days |
| covered with a thin and moist tissue layer known | | | | itself. A nasal spray or decongestant can also be |
| as a mucous membrane. These membranes are | | | | used to treat blocked and runny nose. If it is |
| responsible for adding moisture to the air | | | | chronic sinusitis, the antibiotics need to be taken |
| breathed in. They also produce mucus, a sticky | | | | for a longer time period, like for about a few |
| liquid filled in the nose, also called snot. This sticky | | | | weeks, in order to kill the bacteria completely. The |
| liquid catches germs and dust, which are carried | | | | child shouldn't stop the course of medicine if he |
| by the air, before they enter the body. The | | | | she isn't seeing any improvement in the condition. |
| mucus membranes are covered with cilia or | | | | The doctor should be contacted for further |
| microscopic hair. These cilia move to and fro to | | | | instructions. In this case, a surgery is an |
| encourage the flow of the mucus out of the nose | | | | alternative. The doctor will ask the child to get a |
| and back inside. When the sinuses are infected, | | | | CT scan of the sinuses. |
| the membranes produce more mucus and | | | | The best thing about sinusitis is that it isn't |
| become swollen and irritated. | | | | contagious. So if a kid is infected with it, he/she |
| When a person catches cold, the virus harms the | | | | can still go to school and have fun with the rest |
| cilia and the mucus doesn't get swept back in. | | | | of the kids. But kids who have sinus problem |
| This is how a runny nose is developed. The | | | | should stay away from environmental pollutants |
| mucus lining swells within the nose. This narrows | | | | and allergies, which can trigger the condition again |
| or completely blocks the minute opening of the | | | | in them. |
| sinus into nose. Because of this, the stickier and | | | | |