What is acute sinusitis in a child. The main symptoms of the disease. What can you do

Sinusitis in children most often develops against the background of colds and viral diseases of the upper respiratory tract, which in most cases are accompanied by a runny nose. During ARVI and acute respiratory infections, children's immunity is weakened. As a result, the infection easily penetrates into the paranasal sinuses and causes inflammation there. This process is called sinusitis. The complexity of this disease lies in the fact that a causal factor has a great influence on its course. This means that in addition to treating sinusitis directly, it is necessary to carry out targeted therapy of the underlying disease. Only such an approach will ensure the speedy recovery of the child and prevent the development of complications.

What is sinusitis

Doctors call sinusitis an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses - the paranasal sinuses (air-filled cavities in the skull that communicate with the nasal cavity).

It can become inflamed as one paranasal sinus, or several. This depends on the severity of the disease and the complexity of the treatment.

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses

All nasal sinuses are quite voluminous, but the excretory openings (the fistulas with which the sinuses open into the nasal cavity) are quite small - only from 1 to 3 mm.

Any inflammation of the nasal mucosa is accompanied by edema. And with edema, the fistulas close, and the outflow of mucus from the paranasal sinuses is disturbed. Pathogenic microorganisms multiply in this mucus, which is why the inflammatory process gradually develops.

Depending on the location of the inflammation, its causative agent and the duration of the disease, there are several types and stages of sinusitis. This classification allows you to determine the most effective treatment tactics.

sinusitis video

Types and forms of the disease

If we talk about the types of the disease, it should be noted that sinusitis as an independent pathology is very rare. In most cases, it is preceded by rhinitis (runny nose), caused by viruses, bacteria, allergens, which provoke inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. Therefore, it would be more correct to call the disease rhinosinusitis, and, accordingly, to treat both the cause and the effect at the same time.

Depending on which of the sinuses is inflamed, the following types of disease are distinguished:

1. Monosinusitis. Inflammation of one of the sinuses. Subdivided into:
   • sinusitis - with inflammation of the maxillary sinus;
   • frontal sinus infection - an infection struck the frontal sinus;
   • ethmoiditis - with the localization of the inflammatory process in the ethmoid sinus;
   • sphenoiditis - when an infection affects the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe sphenoid bone.
2. Polysinusitis. Inflammation of several sinuses at once.
3. Pansinusitis. The diagnosis is made when the inflammation spreads immediately to all the paranasal sinuses.

The forms of the disease are determined depending on the duration of its course.

1. Acute sinusitis. Lasts up to three months.
2. Acute recurrent. Occurs two to four times a year.
3. Chronic. Lasts over three months.
4. Intrahospital. A special type of disease, when its symptoms appear 48 hours after the hospitalization of the child.

Features of the course of the disease in children

The clinical picture of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses may differ depending on the age of the child.

Doctors of their young patients are conditionally divided into three age groups:

• first - babies under 3 years old;
• the second - preschool children (from 4 to 7 years);
• third - schoolchildren (from 8 to 15 years old).

In children of the first and second age groups, the paranasal sinuses are still underdeveloped (they are finally formed by the age of 12), and the main causes of inflammatory processes in them are most often viruses and adenoids.

Therefore, sinusitis in babies, as a rule, is asymptomatic, it can be very difficult to identify their signs against the background of developing symptoms of the underlying disease. Preschool children suffer mainly from frontal sinusitis and ethmoiditis.

But the children of the third group have already formed all the sinuses. This means that they can meet sinusitis of any kind and in any form. Often it is polysinusitis or pansinusitis (and at first the inflammation covers the sinuses of the ethmoid bone, then it spreads to the paranasal sinuses, then it affects the frontal and sphenoid sinuses). Monosinusitis in children is extremely rare.

In childhood, the disease may be accompanied by individual forms of otitis media. This is due to the spread of infection from the paranasal sinuses into the middle ear cavity.

The risk group includes children who often get colds, allergies, babies with weakened immune systems, as well as those with a history of chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

According to statistics, more than 20% of children worldwide suffer from sinusitis in its various manifestations. Usually, the number of cases increases sharply in autumn and winter.

Video of Dr. Komarovsky about a variety of sinusitis - sinusitis

The reasons

The most common causes of sinusitis in children are:

• untreated colds;
• flu accompanied by rhinitis;
• chronic runny nose (vasomotor or allergic);
• congenital and acquired pathologies of the nasal septum (curvature, trauma);
• adenoids (with frequent colds, they increase and require surgical intervention);
• caries, destruction of the roots of the upper back teeth.

The causative agents of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses can be:

• influenza viruses;
• adenoviruses;
• rhinoviruses;
• coronaviruses;
• pneumococci;
• hemophilic bacillus;
• staphylococci;
• streptococci;
• chlamydia;
• mycoplasmas.

Viruses and bacteria cause acute sinusitis, and intracellular microorganisms and allergens cause a chronic sluggish process with periodically replacing each other periods of relapse and remission.

Clinical picture

How does the disease develop?

1. When a child gets sick, for example, with the flu, the nasal mucosa is irritated due to the pathogens entering it.
2. Exudate is released, which already contains pathogens.
3. From the nasal cavity, the discharge flows into the paranasal sinuses (one or more).
4. Due to the mucosal edema that accompanies rhinitis of any form, the ventilation of the nasal sinuses is disturbed, and the mucus can no longer get back into the nose.
5. Gradually, the sinuses are filled with mucous secretions, in which microorganisms do not stop multiplying.
6. Due to weakened immunity, the child's body cannot fight the attack of aggressive pathological microflora, and mucous secretions become purulent over time.
7. Since the way out is blocked for them, due to the narrowing of the anastomoses due to edema, pus, along with the waste products of viruses or bacteria, enters the general bloodstream.
8. Intoxication of the body (poisoning) occurs.

Complications

If a child with sinusitis is not provided with qualified medical care in time, if the disease is not cured in the acute stage, it can turn into a chronic form. Then sinusitis is almost asymptomatic, having a negative impact on the functioning of the lungs and heart, liver and kidneys, and sometimes reveals itself only after a few years.

Symptoms

Signs of sinusitis in different children may vary depending on the nature of the inflammation and its location.

What should you pay attention to?

• A runny nose in a child lasts more than two weeks.
• Discharge from the nose has acquired a purulent character.
• The kid complains of frequent headaches and pain in the paranasal region (as a rule, such pains, growing during the day, reach their maximum intensity in the evening).
• Labored or shallow breathing.
• Body temperature can rise up to 39°C (acute sinusitis).
• Weakness, lethargy, general malaise.
• Dryness, sore throat.
• Cough that gets worse at night.
• Sleep disorders.
• Capriciousness, nervousness of the baby.
• Decreased appetite.

Features of acute and chronic course

In the acute form of sinusitis, the symptoms appear suddenly, they are pronounced. The disease begins and develops very rapidly. Most often this occurs against the background of a cold, infection, allergic reaction. In this form, sinusitis can last no more than eight weeks.

In the absence of an accurate diagnosis and adequate treatment, sinusitis becomes chronic. It disturbs the child only from time to time, and its symptoms are less pronounced.

Chronic sinusitis is suspected if:

• headaches, which are observed in the acute course of the disease, turn into a feeling of heaviness;
• a feeling of nasal congestion occurs only periodically, and more often in the supine position;
• the child feels a tickle and dryness in the throat;
• when swallowing, pain occurs.

Diagnostics

A general blood test for sinusitis will always reveal inflammatory changes in the body. It will increase the level of leukocytes and ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate). And with an allergic etiology of the disease, many eosinophils will be found in the blood.

Endoscopic examination of the nasal cavity is currently considered the most accurate method for determining sinusitis in children. But not every ENT room has the necessary equipment for such diagnostics (it is expensive).

Therefore, an otolaryngologist, if sinusitis is suspected, can prescribe an X-ray examination, which allows to detect inflammation in the paranasal sinuses in 80–100% of cases.

A therapeutic and diagnostic puncture is also taken from the paranasal sinuses, which allows you to determine the causative agent of the pathological process and prescribe appropriate therapy.

With sinusitis that develops against the background of a deviated nasal septum or identified neoplasms on the mucosa, computed tomography is performed followed by surgery to remove cysts or straighten the septum to restore normal ventilation of the paranasal sinuses.

It is very important to diagnose the disease in a timely manner and determine the causes of its occurrence. Then an adequate treatment strategy will be chosen. And this is a guarantee of the effectiveness of the prescribed therapeutic measures.

When detected in the early stages and adequately treated, sinusitis in children disappears completely and does not carry any consequences.

Treatment

Acute sinusitis is primarily treated with medication. But in some cases, surgery may be required.

As for the chronic form of the disease, the treatment here has the following goals:

• relief of pain syndrome;
• reduction of inflammation in the paranasal sinuses;
• restoration of patency of fistulas and nasal passages, removal of mucosal edema;
• elimination of the underlying disease;
• reducing the number of relapses through prevention.

Chronic sinusitis is quite treatable. But this process is longer. Preventive measures play a very important role in the healing of the disease.

Medical

Drug therapy for sinusitis involves the complex use of drugs.

• To relieve swelling of the mucosa, vasoconstrictor nasal drops are prescribed - Galazolin, Farmazolin.
• Reduce swelling and mucosal reaction to an allergen (if the cause of sinusitis is an allergic reaction of the child's body to an external irritant) antihistamines - Claritin, Tsetrin.
• Therapeutic fluids (antiseptics) - Collargol, Protargol - fight pathogenic microflora in the nasal cavity.
• Antibiotics - Ampicillin, Amoxicillin - stop the inflammatory process in the paranasal sinuses.
• Linex or Yoghurt capsules soften the negative impact of antibiotics on the intestinal microflora, restore immunity.
• Vitamin complexes - Kiddy-Farmaton, Pikovit - activate the body's defenses in the fight against inflammation, help to recover after recovery.

The treatment of sinusitis in children under one year is complicated by the fact that vasoconstrictor drops are contraindicated for them, and this is the main first aid in case of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses.

Table of drugs used to treat sinusitis in children

Only the attending physician can prescribe medications to the child. Based on the results of diagnostic studies, he will determine the dosage and duration of the course of taking medications, take into account contraindications and warn about possible side effects of a particular medication.

Medicines in the photo

Physiotherapy

Treatment of sinusitis in children is always complex. In addition to medication, in order to alleviate the condition and resume normal ventilation of the paranasal sinuses, the otolaryngologist can refer the child to physiotherapy sessions.

A good effect in this disease is provided by UV (ultraviolet radiation) of the nasal cavity, laser therapy, diathermy (heating with high-frequency currents). These procedures can be done to children from 3-4 years old. And ozokerite and paraffin therapy - even for babies.

It should be borne in mind that with difficult outflow of pus from the nasal sinuses, thermal procedures are contraindicated, since, on the contrary, they can increase headaches and lead to an exacerbation of the disease.

Also, in the conditions of a physical room at a children's clinic, endonasal inhalations and electrophoresis (allowed for children from 1–2 years of age) with solutions of antibiotics, antiseptics, and medicinal herbs can be performed.

And washing the paranasal sinuses using the method of movement is used to treat children's sinusitis very widely. For children, this manipulation is painless and non-traumatic, which means it is allowed even for the smallest. The people call the procedure "cuckoo".

During the procedure "cuckoo" the child must constantly say "Cuckoo!". Why? When an antiseptic is poured into one of his nostrils through a catheter, and this antiseptic, washing out purulent and mucous exudate, is sucked out of the other nostril, it is very important that the access of the solution to the throat is limited. For this, you need to repeat the cherished “Ku-ku!” All the time.

For children from 5 years of age, pus is pumped out of the maxillary sinuses using a pit catheter. This is a high-quality and safe method, as well as completely painless. He is able to completely replace the puncture of the paranasal sinuses.

Operational

The surgical method for the treatment of sinusitis is a puncture of the paranasal sinuses, a puncture, followed by pumping out pus and washing the paranasal sinuses.

After washing, anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics are introduced into the sinuses. If the application of this technique did not bring positive results, a decision is made on drainage.

A special needle is inserted into the paranasal sinus, through which drainage is introduced into it and left there for a while until the edema subsides and natural ventilation of the paranasal sinuses is established.

Mucus outflow occurs through drainage, gas exchange improves, antibacterial and enzyme preparations are introduced. This treatment is used for complicated forms of sinusitis.

Drainage is a complete surgical operation. For children, it is done under general anesthesia in a hospital setting. But they resort to drainage not so often. Usually there are enough medicines and a puncture.

Massage

Effective for sinusitis, face and nose massage, which parents can do to the child at home. The best results from massage are achieved with sinusitis and frontal sinusitis.

The following areas on the child's face are massaged with rotational movements:

1. Points located symmetrically above the center of the frontal sinuses. This is about 1-2 cm to the sides of the extreme inner points of the eyebrows.
2. A point located directly in the center of the forehead. It is 2 cm away from the hairline.
3. Symmetrical points, which can be found 1.5 cm below the lower eyelid. They are located above the very center of the maxillary sinuses.

You need to massage for five minutes 3 times a day. Course duration - 10 days.

Breathing exercises

Children from 3-4 years old with sinusitis can do breathing exercises Strelnikova. The best results from classes are achieved with sinusitis.

This unique technique can significantly improve the ventilation of the paranasal sinuses and activate the outflow of mucus from the paranasal sinuses. Parents should show the children the exercises and check the correctness of their implementation.

Exercises

1. "Palms". Stand up straight. Bend your arms slightly as if your palms are resting against a wall opposite. Take a deep breath in through your nose and clench your palms into fists. Then exhale again through the nose and relax the palms. Do the exercise three more times. Rest for a few seconds and repeat all over again. In total, you need to do 24 approaches, that is, 96 breaths and 96 exhalations.
2. "The chauffeurs". Stand up straight. Press your palms, bent into fists, to the belt. Take a strong breath and at the same time push your hands down, sharply relaxing your palms. As you exhale, return to the starting position. In total, 12 approaches should be performed according to the scheme: 8 breaths, 8 exhalations, 8 seconds of respite.
3. "Cat". Starting position - feet shoulder width apart. Inhaling, squat a little, turn the body and head to the right and make a “shaking” movement with your hands. Exhaling, return to the starting position. Repeat the exercise with a twist to the other side. Do 12 approaches (according to the scheme: 8 breaths, a break of 8 seconds) - this will be 96 breaths and 96 breaths.
4. "Pump". Stand up straight. Lower your hands down. Inhaling, lean forward slightly. In this case, your back should arch in an arc. Exhaling, rise, but not completely. Bend over again as you inhale and straighten up halfway as you exhale. Repeat 8 times without a break, rest 8 seconds and do 8 such bows again.
5. "Head Turns" Stand up straight. Inhaling, turn your head to the right. Exhaling, return to the starting position. Without a break, do the same to the left side. Do 3 sets according to the scheme: 32 breaths, 32 breaths, 8 seconds of rest.

Such gymnastics should be performed regularly for a month for 15-30 minutes twice a day.

Alternative medicine

It is necessary to use non-traditional methods of treating sinusitis and traditional medicine recipes very carefully and only after consulting with your doctor.

The seriousness and danger of this disease should not be underestimated. The consequences of improperly selected therapy can be the most serious: from aggravation of symptoms to disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system and general intoxication of the body.

For example, warming up in the presence of purulent discharge can lead to an exacerbation of the disease, and improper washing can lead to injury to the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.

What folk remedies can an otolaryngologist approve of?

• Instillation into the nasal passages of a weak solution of sea salt. This procedure dries the mucous membrane and relieves irritation.
• Inhalations with medicinal herbs. They can be carried out only 5 days after the onset of the disease and provided that the runny nose has not yet stopped. Take one teaspoon each of chamomile flowers, marigold and sage leaves. Pour a glass of boiling water over low heat and bring to a boil. For inhalation, you can use a special device - an inhaler, or you can simply invite the child to breathe in the vapors of medicinal herbs. To do this, pour the broth into a porcelain teapot and put a cone made of paper with your own hands on its spout.
• Inhalations with essential oils. In boiling water, drip a couple of drops of menthol oil and propolis. Let the child inhale the vapors through the spout of the teapot, protected by a paper cone, or by bending over a wide dish. This method of treatment is acceptable in the absence of allergies to bee products.
• Russian bath with pine (fir) infusion. Finely chop fresh branches of pine (spruce, fir). On a ten-liter bucket, take 5 handfuls of chopped branches. Pour them in a bucket of boiling water and leave for 30-40 minutes. In the bath, sprinkle the heater with this infusion and invite the child to inhale the vapors deeply. Remember that this method can only be used for non-purulent and chronic sinusitis.
• Ointment based on herbal ingredients. To prepare an ointment in equal proportions (take, for example, all components for 1 tsp), mix aloe juice, onion, Kalanchoe, cyclamen rhizomes and St. John's wort oil. To bring the ointment to a thick consistency, you can add honey. This remedy acts on the nasal mucosa. Take 2 cotton swabs, dip them in the ointment and insert the child into both nostrils for 20 minutes. Do this 2-3 times a day for a week.
fir branches

Homeopathy shows good results in the fight against sinusitis. These funds work more to strengthen the protective factors of the body. And this is important in the treatment of this disease. If you have the opportunity to consult with a knowledgeable homeopath, be sure to use it.

Treatment of sinusitis without antibiotics and other medicines is possible if:

• the doctor approved the use of certain folk remedies;
• the immunity of a small patient is not weakened;
• sinusitis is in the initial stage;
• the disease is not acute;
• the main pathology that provoked the disease has been eliminated.

In addition to carrying out therapeutic measures, a child suffering from sinusitis needs to create certain conditions and provide him with the necessary care for a speedy recovery.

1. The optimal temperature in the room where the patient is located should not exceed 18–19 ° C.
2. Humidity in the room should be at least 70%. It is very important to comply with this condition, since the dry air inhaled by the child dries out the mucous membranes and aggravates the symptoms of sinusitis. You can use a humidifier, you can hang wet towels in the room.
3. Do a wet cleaning daily and ventilate the room several times a day.
4. Adjust the diet of a small patient so that it includes only easily digestible, vitamin food.
5. Do not forget about the drinking regime. The child should drink at least 30 ml of water per 1 kg of body weight per day. This is very important for sufficient hydration of the mucous membranes and to prevent intoxication of the body.

Table: Fluid Consumption Rates

Prevention

You can avoid the development of sinusitis in a child if you seek medical help in time if your baby has symptoms of a cold or infectious diseases. When the treatment of these ailments is correct, and the course of therapy will not be interrupted when relief occurs, but will be carried out in full.

A healthy lifestyle is the most important preventive measure for any disease. Diet, work and rest, hardening, playing sports, walking in the fresh air, attending sports sections, etc. All these are components of strong immunity.

The child should not overcool and overheat. Always dress for the weather.

A vitamin diet, which includes natural and only healthy foods, is very important for the proper growth and development of a young organism.

Personal hygiene and cleanliness of the home prevent the entry of pathogens into the mucous membranes and into the gastrointestinal tract of all family members, which means it reduces the likelihood of developing sinusitis in a baby.

Sinusitis is not considered a dangerous disease in medical circles. But only if you seek medical help in time and strictly follow the recommendations of the otolarynologist. Otherwise, even harmless rhinitis can develop into extensive inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, which is fraught with infectious complications that can affect the brain. Therefore, only a qualified specialist can adequately treat any cold in a child. And parents should in no case delay contacting him and neglect preventive measures.

A runny nose in a small child is a common phenomenon that every parent faces. Often the causes of the disease are clear without additional diagnosis and a thorough examination: it can be either a draft or a long walk in clothes that are not suitable for the weather. In winter, during the weakening of immunity, people of any age category often suffer from a runny nose. The manifestation of chronic rhinitis can adversely affect the development of the child.

Sinusitis in children is a common disease characterized by an inflammatory process in the paranasal sinuses. The disease affects not only children, but also adults. The statistics of such diseases is depressing: patients suffer from sinusitis in large numbers.

Inflammation can affect one side of the face or be bilateral in nature, moving to the other. Very often, the process affects the mucous membrane, which causes swelling and failure in the blood supply to individual affected areas. The causes of inflammation can be complications of past infections or an allergic reaction of the body.

The development of sinusitis in stages:

1. The entry of pathogens into the sinuses (one or more can be affected).
2. Foreign bodies cause discomfort to the body due to a weakened immune system.
3. There is swelling of the mucosa. The paranasal sinuses are not sufficiently ventilated.
4. The isolation of the paranasal sinuses does not allow the accumulated mucus to stand out.
5. The sinuses are filled with mucous secretions.
6. Purulent formations, accumulating, communicate with the blood. With them, bacteria and their metabolic products enter the body.
7. The process of intoxication begins to occur.

Classification

Inflammation can be both acute and chronic. If the disease appeared in a child for the first time, doctors diagnose it as acute. The acute nature of sinusitis often leads to adverse symptoms in large numbers.

The baby suffers this form of the disease much harder than an older child.

Frequent and regular exacerbations of sinusitis flow into a chronic variant of the pathology.

1. Etmoiditis. The lattice labyrinth suffers.
2. Frontit. The inflammatory process affects the frontal sinuses.
3. Sinusitis.
4. Sphenoiditis (more common in adults). There is inflammation of the sphenoid sinus, which is located inside the nasal cavity.

One of the stages of pathology is called pansinusitis. In this case, all the sinuses at the same time suffer from inflammation.

It takes a certain time for the development of the paranasal sinuses, which is why a small child does not experience symptoms during the course of sinusitis. Children older than three years old begin to experience characteristic symptoms when affected by a disease associated with an inflammatory process in the paranasal sinuses. This is due to the complete formation of the maxillary sinuses.

Causes

According to statistics, the most common cause of sinusitis is a viral infection. Penetrating into the sinuses, viral bacteria provoke inflammation. Sometimes the infection is accompanied by a bacterial one.

The development of pathology can be affected by:

1. Dental infection (penetration into the sinuses through carious teeth).
2. Foreign objects in the child's nasal cavity (small parts from a plastic toy, food leftovers).
3. Immunodeficiency state (one of the manifestations of the effects of chemotherapy).
4. Asthma.
5. Neoplasms in the nasal cavity, polyps.
6. The manifestation of an allergic reaction, the result of which is swelling.
7. Inflammatory pathology.

Adults can suffer from sinusitis due to smoking or pregnancy.

Sinusitis in children: symptoms

Sinusitis manifests itself in different ways, which affects:

1. form of the disease. The acute nature of the disease entails pronounced symptoms, while the chronic one suggests symptoms of a more erased nature.
2. Baby's age.

The development of the paranasal sinuses can take two to three years of a child's life. The most common cause of pathology in a baby of this age is a viral infection. Symptoms in this case are mild, the disease proceeds without complications and decreased well-being. Otitis media often follows sinusitis.

Older children may suffer from damage to any of the paranasal sinuses due to their complete formation. Often, the inflammatory process manifests itself in several cavities at once, often all sinuses suffer. The defeat of the sinus in the singular can be found much less frequently.

Symptoms of the disease:

1. Purulent discharge, due to which the mucus becomes yellow-green.
2. Decreased olfactory sensations.
3. Frequent dryness in the throat, due to which the child begins to cough (especially at night).
4. Runny nose lasts more than two weeks.
5. An increase in temperature in the case of an acute nature of the process. Chronic sinusitis rarely presents with this symptom.
6. Pain in the nasal region, acute headache.
7. Poor health: sluggish state, disturbed diet and sleep.
8. Difficulty in breathing.

Parents should not treat the baby and prescribe all medications on their own. Consulting with your doctor will help identify the nature of sinusitis. It is the specialist who will help you choose the right treatment for the disease, so any suspicious symptom must be reported to the pediatrician.

Pathology can be treated in two ways: medicines and surgery. There are several medications that help relieve symptoms and eliminate the cause of the disease:

1. Vasoconstrictors. They help reduce swelling and get rid of a large amount of mucous secretions from the nasal cavity. It is necessary to consult a specialist and carefully study the instructions for use before treating sinusitis with these drugs. Many vasoconstrictors are contraindicated in children under a certain age.
2. Healing drops. Used after the use of vasoconstrictor drugs.
3. Antihistamines.
4. Antibiotics.

Antibiotics

The bacterial origin of the disease may be the reason for the refusal of antibiotics if the results of analyzes of the type of microorganisms and the level of sensitivity to drugs are obtained. But with a high temperature, a sharp deterioration in well-being and abundant purulent discharge, the pediatrician prefers antibiotics as an effective method in the fight against the disease. This is due to the occurrence of a dangerous condition that requires immediate treatment. This situation may occur before culture results are available. Therapy and course are adjusted as soon as the doctor receives all the necessary data on the tests.

The pediatrician often prescribes penicillin antibiotics. In the event of an allergic reaction, resort to Sumamed and other macrolides.

Physiotherapy procedures

Assign only in the absence of pus. Ultra-high-frequency and laser therapy, ultrasound can help to cope with the inflammatory process. Means are used to help improve the penetration of medications. You can supplement therapy with darsonvalization.

Treatment of sinusitis in children at home

Parents can be directly involved in the process of treating a child. There are many effective ways to help cope with the disease and reduce inflammation. The parent can massage the baby's face and nasal area for good results. This remedy is effective in case of frontal sinusitis or sinusitis. It is necessary to resort to massage from one to three times a day, massaging the area for about five minutes. Two weeks of massage will help relieve unpleasant symptoms.

Attention should be paid to these areas:

1. Points that are located above the frontal sinuses (two centimeters from the inner edge of the eyebrow).
2. Symmetrical points located above the maxillary sinuses (under the lower eyelid at a distance of one and a half centimeters).
3. Center of the frontal area.

Similarly, breathing exercises are used, which contribute to the blood supply to all individual organs and the exclusion of stagnation processes. The inflammatory process thanks to these techniques is noticeably reduced.

Inhalations

If the child does not have an allergic reaction, you can resort to inhalation. For decoctions, chamomile, calendula or sage are used. The procedure has an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect, having a beneficial effect on the body and restoring clean breathing. Mucus quickly departs, nasal congestion disappears.

It is necessary to pour medicinal herbs with liquid, bringing to a boil, and cool the composition a little. The baby needs to inhale therapeutic vapors.

Try to monitor the temperature of the steam, because the baby can get burned!

1. Washing procedure. A composition of honey and onions is used. The technology of preparation is quite simple. It is necessary to chop a small onion, putting a little honey, and pour boiling water over it. The infusion should stand for about five hours, after which you can wash your nasal cavity with it. With daily use in a couple of weeks, you can get rid of sinusitis altogether.
2. Warming up with compresses. It is necessary to squeeze the juice from the black radish, add olive oil (two servings of oil to one juice) and pour over the cotton cloth with the composition. Matter must be put on the nose, holding for an hour. If the child complains of severe burning, you need to remove the material. It is better to resort to warming up twice a day.
3. Using aloe juice as drops. If you want to get a more effective result, you can mix juice and honey (one to one). It is necessary to instill no more than three drops at a time in the morning and evening.
4. Use a honey compress. To do this, honey must be mixed with flour until the composition resembles porridge. From the mixture it is necessary to mold a couple of cakes, applying to the diseased area. The mass must be applied at night.

The optimal climate in the house is a condition for recovery

The temperature always affects the well-being of the baby, as does the humidity and freshness in the room. If the surrounding conditions are optimal, the child will recover much faster. The child's body needs special care during illness.

It is necessary to maintain about nineteen degrees of heat in the room. If the temperature is higher, the baby will suffer from excessive sweating and feel discomfort. Too low a temperature can cause additional complications with a new cold.

In the summer, you can use the air conditioner, but only if the child himself will be located in another place at the time the device is turned on. Exclude powerful heating devices from the list of necessary ones in winter: the mucous membrane suffers from strong drying of the air.

Similarly, you need to pay attention to the humidity in the room, which should be within 60%. Dry air can adversely affect the child's body and dry out the mucous membrane. To maintain the desired indicator in the apartment, it is necessary to carry out regular wet cleaning. You may need special humidifiers.

Complications of sinusitis

If the treatment was started late or the therapy was chosen incorrectly, complications may occur. In this case, it is necessary, if symptoms occur, to go to the pediatrician for a consultation.

The rapid spread of the infection entails damage to neighboring organs. The following diseases may occur:

1. Otitis.
2. Meningitis.
3. Osteomyelitis.

Prevention and care

To avoid the occurrence of the disease, the following measures must be observed:

1. Provide your child with the right diet.
2. Pay attention to the indicators of temperature and humidity in the room in which the baby is located.
3. Do not self-medicate and consult a specialist if any complications occur.
4. Temper the child's body.
5. Try to provide the child with everything necessary for an active lifestyle.
6. Monitor your baby's sleep.

If you suspect inflammation, you should immediately contact your pediatrician. Treatment of sinusitis in children is a simple procedure, if you approach the issue in a timely manner and choose the right medications.

What kind of disease

Sinusitis is an inflammatory disease in which one or more paranasal sinuses are involved in the pathological process. When a doctor makes such a diagnosis, it is difficult for parents to immediately figure out what kind of disease it is, how dangerous it is.

Sinusitis in children is a common condition. Every fourth baby suffers from this disease. More often, pathology develops in the cold season, but exceptions are possible.

The disease can be of a different nature, that is, provoked by various pathogens. Treatment methods will vary depending on the etiology.

Nasal breathing is unique. Several sinuses are located in the bones of the skull, each of which can undergo a pathological process. Sometimes several paranasal sinuses get sick at once. They can be of four types:

• maxillary;
• frontal;
• lattice;
• wedge-shaped.

Each of the sinuses is important for the implementation of full nasal breathing. In sinusitis, they become clogged or clogged. Viruses or bacteria accumulate inside, and as a result, an inflammatory process begins.

Causes of the disease

In order to successfully cure sinusitis, it is important to understand the reasons why pathology can occur and how to provide high-quality first aid to a child. The disease can develop as an independent pathology, or as a complication after an infection.

The main causes of inflammation of the sinuses of the nose include the following:

Important! In children, sinusitis often develops against the background of some small objects or toys getting into the nose: the nasal passages overlap, and an inflammatory process begins inside.

The risk of developing problems with nasal breathing increases with the presence of such predisposing factors:

• curvature of the nasal septum;
• congenital developmental anomalies;
• low immune defense;
• frequent hypothermia.

On a note! Scuba divers also often experience sinusitis.

The consequences of sinusitis in the absence of adequate therapy can be unpleasant. If a runny nose is cured immediately, there will be no complications. Sinusitis develops gradually.

Initially, the nasal mucosa becomes infected with pathogens. Due to pathological effects, normal processes are disrupted, and edema begins. The ventilation of the remaining paranasal sinuses is disturbed, as breathing is blocked. Mucus begins to accumulate, the sinuses fill with it. The accumulated secretions begin to suppurate. In especially severe cases, an exacerbation occurs, and a harmful infection enters the bloodstream and affects other internal organs.

Classification of sinusitis

Sinusitis in children is of different types. The classification distinguishes the following types of the disease:

Types of sinusitis determine the localization of the inflammatory process. So, with frontal sinusitis, the frontal paranasal sinus is affected. With sinusitis - the sinuses of the upper jaw. When the cavity of the sphenoid bone is affected, sphenoiditis is diagnosed. And when the pathology is localized in the ethmoid bone, ethmoiditis is put.

Sinusitis can occur in children at any age. However, the development of all sinuses does not occur at the same time. Therefore, due to the structural features, ethmoiditis is more common among young children.

There are also chronic and acute sinusitis. The acute process ends within three months and a complete cure occurs. It is customary to talk about the chronic stage of the course if it was not possible to completely get rid of the disease during this period, and the pathology periodically recurs.

Depending on the cause that caused the pathology, the following forms of sinusitis are distinguished:

• bacterial;
• fungal;
• allergic;
• viral;
• traumatic.

There are also mixed forms of pathology, in which the disease begins with infection with a virus, and then another infection joins the process.

Note! If a bacterial infection is attached, the risk of developing purulent sinusitis is high.

Allergic sinusitis occurs when exposed to allergens that enter the respiratory tract. The immune cells of the body perceive them as foreign, and a pronounced edema begins. Due to the obstruction of the air, an accumulation of bacteria and viruses begins in the sinuses, which leads to the onset of the disease.

Symptoms of the disease

Recognizing the first signs of sinusitis can be difficult, as often the disease becomes a complication of a cold suffered by a child. Parents should carefully monitor the baby in order to notice warning signs in time, if necessary.

You can suspect the development of sinusitis if you have several of the following complaints:

• prolonged runny nose, poorly amenable to therapy;
• difficult nasal breathing;
• congestion of one or the other nostril;
• expectoration;
• copious excretion of purulent discharge in the morning;
• dryness in the nasopharynx;
• pain in the bridge of the nose, aggravated by bending;
• decreased sense of smell;
• headache;
• pain radiating to the teeth, cheekbones and eyes;
• aggravated sensitivity of the skin on the face;
• swelling of the eyelids;
• temperature rise;
• general weakness.

With sinusitis, children become irritable because they have difficulty breathing. They may act up, cry, and even refuse to eat. The quality of taste is reduced.

A child suffering from sinusitis may have a voice change. He becomes nasty. The clinical picture becomes especially bright in the evening hours.

The light can irritate the child. Therefore, the baby prefers dark rooms. There may be profuse lacrimation.

Important! Parents should be wary if, after the start of the path to recovery, the child's condition suddenly worsened - this happens when a bacterial infection is added, which requires correction of treatment.

Features of the acute form of the flow

A doctor can diagnose both unilateral and bilateral sinusitis. An acute course is characterized by the following features:

• heat;
• loss of smell;
• output of abundant mucus, often with pus;
• nasal congestion;
• heaviness in the paranasal sinuses;
• changes in the blood test, including an increase in leukocytes and ESR.

The picture of the disease occurs suddenly. Symptoms are growing rapidly. All this indicates the development of sinusitis.

Features of the chronic form of pathology

With chronic sinusitis in a child, signs of the disease appear from time to time. There may be periods of calm when the disease does not make itself felt.

Symptoms of chronic sinusitis are:

• purulent discharge, especially in the morning;
• mucus flows down the back wall or comes out;
• coughing due to mucus;
• often worried about headaches;
• there is an unpleasant smell from the mouth;
• the skin on the face is periodically exposed to hyperemia;
• temperature is normal.

Rarely, in the chronic form of sinusitis, the temperature rises. The maximum mark that can be is 37.5. A blood test will not show any pathological changes. Basic vital signs will be within normal limits.

Sinusitis Diagnosis

Sinusitis is diagnosed by an otolaryngologist. In the photo you can see what awaits the child at the doctor's appointment.

The doctor will carefully listen to the child and parents about the symptoms. After analyzing them, he will decide which additional examinations are necessary to clarify the diagnosis.

Most often, if sinusitis is suspected, a referral is issued for an x-ray examination of the paranasal sinuses. The picture will give the specialist an idea of ​​​​the condition of the mucous membrane, its thickness and the amount of accumulated mucus.

In rare cases, the following methods are used:

• rhinoscopy;
• CT scan;
• puncture.

The puncture is carried out infrequently, but only in cases where other methods may be ineffective, or the patient needs urgent emergency care.

Principles of treatment of sinusitis

When sinusitis is not severe, home treatment is allowed. After a complete examination, the doctor will issue a prescription and pick up nose drops for sinusitis.

The main goal of therapy is to eliminate the impact of the pathological pathogen and normalize the processes of nasal breathing. If the disease is not treated, unpleasant complications can occur.

Do not self-medicate. Properly selected drugs are the key to a successful cure.

In order to quickly relieve swelling in the sinuses and normalize breathing, the doctor will prescribe these drops:

• "Galazolin";
• "Sanorin";
• "Naphthyzin";
• Nazivin.

The process of instillation by such means should be carried out in the supine position on the side. Due to this arrangement, medicinal substances will penetrate into the lower sinus, providing the most effective effect.

In order for drugs to relieve not just symptoms, but to have a therapeutic effect, therapy must be comprehensive. Simultaneously with vasoconstrictor medications, the doctor will prescribe drops that have an antiseptic effect:

• "Kollargol";
• "Protargol".

When a child develops sinusitis, antibiotics often help to cure the pathology. These drugs are prescribed both when a bacterial infection occurs, and when infection is likely.

Important! Such drugs are very serious, so self-administration without the participation of a doctor is strictly contraindicated.

The choice of antibiotic depends on the pathogen. The following medications may be prescribed:

If the temperature rises to critical levels, you can give the child antipyretics. Babies are usually prescribed "Paracetamol", "" or "Panadol". The dosage is determined by the doctor, depending on the age and body weight of the child.

When sinusitis is triggered by an allergic reaction, antihistamines are prescribed to alleviate the condition. It can be "Diazolin", "" or "Claritin".

folk therapy

Treatment with folk remedies is allowed and desirable, but only in combination with the main therapy. The following popular methods are used:

• washing the sinuses with saline at room temperature;
• inhalations with sea salt and decoctions of medicinal herbs;
• acupressure of the bridge of the nose;
• breathing exercises.

If necessary, the attending physician will issue a referral for a course of physiotherapy. Such procedures will help to recover faster and prevent complications.

Important! In no case should you warm up the sinuses on your own, as this can only accelerate the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms and lead to a serious complication.

Prevention

Sinusitis prevention includes:

• strengthening immunity;
• complete nutrition;
• frequent exposure to fresh air;
• timely cure for all colds;
• thorough cleaning of the mouth.

It is important to visit the dentist regularly and treat your teeth. This will protect against the development of caries, which, in turn, will significantly reduce the risk of developing sinusitis.

Timely medical treatment prescribed by a doctor will help to avoid unpleasant complications of sinusitis. The sooner the doctor examines the child, the better for his health and well-being. The baby will quickly restore normal nasal breathing and regain a positive mood.

Watch the video:

Panic grips any parent when their child cannot breathe. Normal breathing without pain and thick nasal discharge is possible! We treat sinusitis in children. What do parents need to know about this insidious disease?

To provoke sinusitis in children can be many different factors from viruses or bacteria to simple allergies. With this disease in children, the paranasal sinuses become inflamed. More than a quarter of children across the planet suffer from it, especially during the cold season.

What is this disease and what causes it?

Sinusitis in children and adults is always an inflammatory process, the localization of which is concentrated in the paranasal sinuses. With it, the child has not only thick discharge from the nose, but also:

• heat;
• increased blood pressure;
• pain in the nose;
• loss of smell.

Sinusitis in children can develop in all four sinuses of the nose: maxillary, frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid. After all, they all have a common connection, and with sinusitis, blockage or clogging of the sinuses occurs. This creates favorable conditions for the reproduction of pathogenic microflora, which leads to inflammation. Doctors do not recommend this condition to be ignored, because it is serious and dangerous.

Interesting! In children, the formation of the sinuses of the nose occurs up to 12 years, and most often, up to this time, the pathology of the nose in them proceeds with some features. When the formation process ends, sinusitis in children can be of any form, affecting any of their sinuses.

Doctors identify the following reasons that contribute to the development of pathology:

1. Viruses. The development of sinusitis is often facilitated by a virus that becomes the root cause of the flu or colds. After all, it is these diseases that give impetus to the formation of a focus of inflammation and abundant discharge from the nose. And if they are not treated, then this leads to stagnation of mucus, which contributes to the development of sinusitis.
2. bacteria. These microorganisms are unshakably present in the human body, and children are no exception. There are a lot of them in their nasal cavities and nasopharynx, but most of them do not cause harm to health. However, in cases of hypothermia or a sharp decrease in immunity, they can multiply rapidly and provoke rhinosinusitis in a child.
3. Fungi. Most often, a fungal infection in the nasal passages of children develops when they are diagnosed with diseases that reduce immunity. Fungi can cause chronic sinusitis.
4. Allergic reaction. Most often, the development of this disease contributes to seasonal rhinitis. Under certain circumstances, it easily passes into a more severe form of the disease in a child.
5. Pathological development of the nasal passages. Sinusitis can develop due to the curvature of the nasal septum, polyps, adenoids or tumors in the nose, because of them the secret can stagnate.

Sinusitis: symptoms of the disease

Rhinosinusitis in children is accompanied by characteristic symptoms:

• nasal discharge for more than 14 days;
• nasal discharge is purulent in nature, the color can be from transparent to yellow-green;
• in the late afternoon, the child is worried about pain in the head, which is most often concentrated in the nose, forehead and temples;
• it is difficult for the baby to breathe through the nose;
• a sharp increase in body temperature;
• at night, coughing fits and dryness in the nasopharynx may disturb;
• loss of appetite;
• sleep disturbance;
• weakness and lethargy.

Disease classification

Rhinosinusitis in a child is classified according to where the inflammatory process originated and develops:

• maxillary sinus - sinusitis;
• frontal sinus - frontal sinus;
• ethmoidal labyrinth - ethmoiditis;
• sphenoid sinus - sphenoiditis.

Children most often suffer from sinusitis. Moreover, any of the above diseases can be either unilateral or bilateral, it all depends on how many sinuses are involved in the inflammatory process.

The nature of inflammation allows us to divide the disease into 3 main forms:

1. With edematous-catarrhal sinusitis, the inflammatory process takes place exclusively on the mucous membrane.
2. With a purulent form, the disease begins to progress already in the deep layers of the paranasal sinuses, with purulent discharge.
3. Mixed sinusitis occurs with symptoms of both of the above forms.

Sinusitis can occur:

• in an acute form and be provoked by any disease with an infectious origin, the duration of the disease is from 2 to 4 weeks;
• in the pre-acute form, which occurs due to the fact that acute sinusitis has not been cured to the end, the duration of the disease is from 4 to 12 weeks;
• in chronic form, develops from frequent sinusitis or prolonged allergies, can last more than 12 weeks.

Diagnosis and complications of the disease

Rhinosinusitis in a child is diagnosed only by a pediatric ENT doctor, immediately after a small patient, who was brought to him by his parents, turned to him after the above symptoms. Diagnostics means:

• inspection;
• rhinoscopy;
• MRI or CT;
• sinus puncture;
• collection of anamnesis;
• radiography.

• a pathology lasting more than three months will take a chronic form and provoke the development of irreversible processes in the nasal mucosa;
• blood clots in the venous system of the head and neck;
• brain inflammation;
• abscess of bone tissue;
• meningoencephalitis and purulent meningitis.

Medical treatment

Rhinosinusitis in children is treated with the help of complex therapy, which includes not only taking special medications, but also washing with special medications, certain exercises.

Important! Treatment is carried out in a hospital or on an outpatient basis, and this is affected by the severity of the disease, the age of the small patient, the cause that provoked sinusitis.

Complex therapy is based on the following drugs:

1. Vasoconstrictor medicines that facilitate breathing and removing secretions from the nose. They relieve swelling of the mucosa. Usually these are drops that need to be instilled in the child, laying him on his side. For these purposes, Sanorin, Nazivin, Glazolin, Naphthyzin, etc. are used.
2. Antiseptic drugs "Protargol" and "Collardol", which are used after a vasoconstrictor drug, so that they relieve inflammation of the mucous membrane.
3. Broad-spectrum antibiotics: "Azithromycin", "Augmentin" or narrowly targeted - "Bioparox". The choice of drug depends on which pathogen caused the pathology.
4. Antipyretics. When the baby has a fever, then it is removed by Panadol, Efferalgan, Paracetamol. In addition to eliminating the temperature, they relieve inflammation in a mild form.
5. Antihistamines, such as Zodak, Suprastin, Erius, etc. Even if the baby does not have allergies, they are prescribed in tandem with antibiotics, which can provoke swelling and other allergy symptoms.

Additionally, washing of the maxillary sinuses with "Furacilin" or "Dioxidin" is prescribed. This procedure is most often performed under local anesthesia. It is very effective to carry out the "cuckoo" when the outflow of purulent secretions is difficult or absent altogether. Physiotherapeutic measures are used to treat sinusitis: a blue lamp, UHF current, solux, laser, acupuncture, and the like. If the treatment does not bring results, then surgical intervention cannot be avoided.

home treatment

In children, sinusitis is best not treated with traditional medicine at home without consulting a doctor.

Home therapy that you can independently carry out for a child is:

1. Massage. Fingers gently tap the bridge of the baby's nose for no more than 3 minutes, repeat the manipulation every hour. Move your fingers only clockwise, focusing on the inner part of the orbit, the middle point on the nasolabial fold and the inner corner of the eyebrow. Massage these points for 20 seconds.
2. Inhalation, which is carried out using sea salt or beneficial herbs such as chamomile, calendula or sage. It is forbidden to carry out this procedure earlier than a week after the onset of the disease. Otherwise, it will only worsen the patient's condition, as well as warming up, which only enhances the development of pathogenic microflora in the nasal passages and sinuses. It is best to use essential oils for these purposes, with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Usually it is menthol, propolis.
3. Breathing exercise, which consists of closing one nasal passage, open the nostrils, you need to take 10 breaths, then change the nasal passage.
4. Rinse the nasal passages with "Humer" or "No-salt" - solutions based on sea salt.
5. Lubricate the nasal mucosa with an ointment prepared from substances taken in equal proportions: aloe juice, Kalanchoe, onion juice, cyclamen rhizome, St. John's wort oil. The consistency must be brought to the desired density with honey. A cotton swab is dipped in ointment and lubricated with the nasal mucosa or left there for 20 minutes. Such manipulations are carried out twice a day for 7 days. It can be carried out only for older children and only after consulting a doctor, because some components of this effective ointment can be allergenic.

Disease prevention

Pediatricians and ENT doctors recommend using the following measures to prevent sinusitis in babies:

1. Monitor the fresh air in the room where the child is most often. Airing should be carried out in the absence of a child in the room.
2. The child should not be cold.
3. Before the cold season and after it, conduct a course of taking immunomodulators and vitamin complexes that will increase the child's immunity. For the prevention of sinusitis, you can use herbal preparations (dietary supplements) such as Malavit, Citrosept.
4. Carry out activities to harden the baby. Start them gradually, for example, give the child a contrast shower or gradually reduce the temperature in the bedroom.
5. If the child has a cold, provide him with bed rest and ensure a large intake of fluids, which helps to thin the nasal secretion.
6. Monitor oral hygiene, regularly take the baby to a dental examination, because periodontitis can provoke an inflammatory process in the maxillary sinus.
7. If a child has anatomical anomalies or pathologies that make it difficult to breathe through the nose, they must be eliminated with the help of a qualified specialist.
8. Exclude from the child's life factors that can provoke the disease:

• remove allergens;
• dust regularly;
• avoid contact of the child with cigarette smoke;
• remove swimming, because the pool water is chlorinated, which is a serious allergen.

Despite the fact that doctors do not consider sinusitis to be an extremely dangerous childhood disease, if left untreated, its consequences can be very serious for the health of the baby. And these are not only pathological processes in the nasal mucosa, which become irreversible and interfere with normal breathing. These are meningitis and meningoencephalitis, sometimes resulting in death. Therefore, with the manifestation of symptoms characteristic of this disease, it is necessary to take the child to the doctor so that timely and competent treatment is prescribed.

Related videos

Perhaps the most common ailment found in children is a runny nose. It happens so often with colds and hypothermia that parents do not sound the alarm and do not seek help from a doctor, trying to manage on their own: drops, folk remedies and warming up are used. Sometimes, you treat, you treat the baby, but there is no improvement. Dear parents! Be careful: mucous discharge from the nose can be the beginning of a serious disease called sinusitis!

The children's body is much weaker than the body of an adult, so children are more susceptible to infections. Against the background of weak immunity, the infection can easily penetrate into the paranasal sinuses and firmly gain a foothold there, triggering the inflammatory process.

According to statistics, 20% of the child population at least once suffer from this disease. In the cold season, cases of the disease increase sharply.

The mechanism of the development of the disease

Sinusitis is an inflammation of one or more of the paranasal sinuses. In medicine, you can find their second name - sinuses. Hence the name of the diagnosis. The sinuses look like cavities filled with air. They communicate with the nasal cavity. Normally, air is exchanged between the nose and sinus. The secret produced by the sinuses, in a healthy person, does not linger in them and enters the nasal cavity through special channels - fistulas. With inflammation, the situation is quite different.

How does disease occur? Pathogenic microorganisms enter the sinuses. Against the background of weak immunity, the child's body cannot cope with the infection on its own. A response to an infectious pathogen develops, the mucous membrane of the sinuses and fistulas swells, which prevents the mucous masses from coming out of the sinuses out into the nasal cavity. Over time, the mucus fills the sinuses, the mucus thickens, turning into pus, which, entering the bloodstream, causes intoxication of the body.

What are inflammations?

Based on which of the paranasal sinuses is inflamed, the following types of diseases are distinguished:

• sinusitis (maxillary sinuses are affected);
• ethmoiditis (the sinuses of the ethmoid bone are affected);
• frontal sinusitis (frontal sinuses are affected);
• sphenoiditis (sphenoid sinuses are affected).

In babies under three years old, the sinuses are not yet fully formed. The main cause of the development of the disease at this age are adenoid vegetations and viral infections, so the symptoms of the disease are usually mild. At an older age, when the sinuses are fully developed, you can encounter any form of the disease. Moreover, more often the inflammatory process affects several types of sinuses at once (polysinusitis) or all at once (pansinusitis). Monosinusitis, in which one sinus becomes inflamed, is rare.

If the inflammatory process affects the sinuses on one side, this is called hemisinusitis.

According to the nature of the course of the disease, acute, subacute and chronic sinusitis are distinguished.

The inflammation itself can be catarrhal, purulent and mixed.

Reasons for the development of the disease

Prerequisites for almost all types of diseases are viruses. Influenza, measles, rubella, SARS - all these diseases can easily cause inflammation of the nasal sinuses. The second causative agent of the disease is bacteria. Bacteria inhabit the oral cavity and nasopharynx constantly. Normally, their number is small, and they do not harm the body. But viral infections or cold can become a catalyst for the activation of microorganisms, which can lead to disruption of the normal functioning of the sinuses.

Sinusitis in a chronic form in a child can develop against the background of a fungal infection. This is more common in children with diabetes or leukemia. Recently, cases of diseases caused by allergic reactions have become more frequent. Allergies and asthma can quite easily provoke inflammation of the sinuses.

Among the reasons, one can single out the anatomical features of the baby: adenoids, a deviated nasal septum, large polyposis formations - all this blocks the exits of the mucous masses, causing them to stagnate with subsequent inflammation.

Symptoms of sinusitis in a child

The manifestations of the disease depend on the nature of the inflammatory process. Symptoms of the disease in young patients are less pronounced than in adults. And not every baby can accurately explain where and how it hurts, which greatly complicates the diagnosis.

With various types of disease, the patient may complain of:

• prolonged nasal congestion;
• prolonged discharge of mucous or purulent secretions from the nose;
• unpleasant, sometimes painful sensations in the face and head area, especially when it is tilted.

Body temperature may rise.

There may be an unpleasant odor from the mouth and throat.

The kid becomes lethargic, loses his appetite, habitual games and activities do not bring him joy. He begins to be disturbed by a dry cough, from which the usual medicines do not save: this mucus constantly flowing down the back of the throat irritates it, causing coughing fits.

In the acute form of the disease, the symptoms are more intense and more pronounced than in chronic sinusitis.

Possible Complications

It is necessary to cure sinusitis in a child immediately when the first signs of the disease appear. After all, with a belated treatment of the disease, serious complications can occur, sometimes even more dangerous than the inflammation of the paranasal sinuses itself. Sinusitis with complications proceeds and is treated much more difficult.

If you do not take effective measures to treat sinusitis, the inflammatory process will become chronic. And it will be extremely difficult to cure a chronic illness in a child: the treatment of chronic sinusitis should be trusted only by a highly qualified ENT specialist.

The disease can lead to intracranial rhinogenic and orbital pathologies: vein thrombosis, inflammation in bone tissues, orbital phlegmon, conjunctivitis, meningitis, brain abscess, meningoencephalitis, and this is just an incomplete list of negative consequences. A complication of sinusitis, for example, can lead to a complete loss of smell and even loss of vision.

Treatment

When treating sinusitis in children, you need to remember the main rule: you can not take any measures without consulting an otorhinolaryngologist! Treatment should be comprehensive and include:

• vasoconstrictors to relieve swelling of the mucous membranes;
• antiseptic agents that have a good anti-inflammatory effect;
• antibiotics are prescribed for children if the inflammation is bacterial in nature; it is important to drink the prescribed course in full, because with an incompletely cured child, the risks of recurrent diseases and complications increase;
• antipyretics in the presence of high temperature;
• allergy medications, if the source of inflammation is allergic reactions.

It is much more difficult to cure a chronic disease. Effective treatment of chronic inflammation is preceded by the elimination of the cause that caused the disease: for example, the removal of polyps and adenoids.

Children with a chronic form of the disease, in the absence of the proper effect of therapy, may be prescribed a puncture of the maxillary sinuses (with sinusitis) or an operative (surgical) intervention - microgeniotomy.

Treatment in the "ENT Clinic of Dr. Zaitsev"

Many medical institutions offer to cure sinusitis in a child in Moscow. But finding a good doctor for a baby is not so easy. Going to the doctor with a child is a real stress for both the baby and his parents. In our clinic, we offer high-quality and effective treatment of sinusitis in children of all ages. Modern equipment, own methods of treatment and highly qualified specialists are the key to a quick recovery. The reception itself takes place naturally in a playful way - the baby quickly forgets where and why he came. After the procedures, he can play in a specially equipped children's area, while the mother and the doctor discuss the treatment regimen. Prices in the clinic have not changed for more than three years and remain among the best in Moscow.

Please do not postpone your visit and come. We will be glad to help you!