Sinusitis in a child is considered the most common complication of colds. This is due to structural features of the skull and nasal passages. However, sometimes parents begin to struggle with a problem that is not there. Therefore, it is important to know exactly how the disease occurs in children and what to do so that it does not develop into a chronic one.
The structure of the sinuses in children
The base of the skull and nasal passages in young children differ significantly from the structure of an adult. The maxillary sinuses of a child who is not yet three years old are at the highest point. In this case, the maxillary sinus resembles a narrow gap, which expands with age and acquires normal features. Adolescents who have reached 16 years old already have every chance of developing sinusitis, as well as adults. But up to 3-4 years, pneumatization of the upper jaw has not yet occurred, so the development of sinusitis is simply impossible.
Functions of the maxillary sinuses
In the body, everything is interconnected, and each organ performs its characteristic role. So, sinuses have several functions:
- warming the air, purifying and moisturizing it;
- affects individual speech dissonance;
- forms the structure of the skull and protects the face from physical injuries;
- protect the base of the fundus and the roots of the teeth from cold air;
- make it possible to feel the pressure change due to the cells that are responsible for this process.
However, the maxillary sinuses of the child are not able to fully cope with the above functions. Therefore, the quality of inhaled air for young children is in the first place. In this regard, negative changes in weather conditions lead to a runny nose and nasal congestion.
Sinusitis - what is it
Sinusitis in a child is an inflammation of the maxillary sinuses. The nasal cavity is connected to the upper jaw using a channel. Therefore, problems affecting the nose will inevitably affect the sinuses.
The child’s body is not yet perfect, an ordinary runny nose always causes negative changes in the maxillary region. Therefore, a catarrhal disease inevitably causes sinusitis in a child. However, far from always the problem requires cardinal intervention. Most often, after eliminating the main symptoms, the disease goes away on its own.
Causes of sinusitis
The main culprit for inflammation of the maxillary sinuses is viral respiratory disease. But the cause can also be:
- facial injuries;
- pathology in the structure of the dentition;
- disruptions in the endocrine system.
Sinusitis in a child most often takes place in an uncomplicated form. Doctors diagnose a catarrhal form, which occurs without the formation of pus. Specific treatment is not required. The pediatrician prescribes drugs that eliminate the common cold, and the problem goes away on its own.
But with the age of the baby, purulent forms of the disease can also be observed. In this case, a comprehensive examination is required. Treatment of sinusitis in children may require hospitalization, so that there is the possibility of professional assistance.
Problem identification
So that the doctor can make a diagnosis, he collects an anamnesis, examines the child and examines the data of nasal endoscopy. It is important for parents to accurately tell about complaints, without embellishing the events, but also not suppressing the problem.
If the baby's age allows, then the pediatrician will talk with him. But mom should also objectively assess the severity of her child’s condition. Only a comprehensive examination, coupled with the data from the conversation, will help the doctor establish the true cause of the ailment.
In young children, the nasal mucosa is much thicker than in adults. Therefore, any infectious process that occurs in the nasal passages causes their swelling. When conducting x-ray studies, you can see how these places are darkened. But to consider their structure and the cause of the problem is not possible. Therefore, only on the basis of x-rays the final diagnosis is not made.
Often, with suspected purulent sinusitis, computed tomography is prescribed. The examination allows you to accurately diagnose maxillary sinusitis and prescribe competent treatment.
Signs of sinusitis
In order for the treatment of sinusitis in children to be effective and aimed at a specific problem, it is necessary to know the initial signs. But the difficulty lies in the fact that at the beginning of the disease, all manifestations are similar to a common cold. Already after the transition of the disease to a purulent stage, the clinic becomes pronounced. Therefore, parents should be wary of the following points:
- The child's general condition worsened, the temperature rose and a headache occurred. Symptoms indicate intoxication of the body.
- The baby often breathes through his mouth, while there is a nasal voice.
- The child refuses solid food. With inflammation of the maxillary sinuses, the roots of the teeth are affected, so chewing delivers pain.
- There is irritation of the nasolabial triangle and the base of the nose. In this case, the snot is thick, but may be absent when the output channel is blocked.
- The mucus that occurs during inflammation often flows down the back of the larynx, so a child may have a cough.
- The child complains that he can not smell his favorite food. This is due to swelling of the nasal passages.
- Often you can observe swelling of the lower eyelids and swelling of the face. The bony septum of the child is still too thin, so the inflammation quickly passes to the jaw and eye sockets.
- Photophobia and frequent lacrimation are observed. This is due to the blockage of the nasolacrimal canal.
- Pain occurs when you press on the side of the nose and the area of the inner corner of the eye.
If the child has a series of such signs, then without consulting a pediatrician and ENT doctor, you can not do.
Complex of medical procedures
How to treat sinusitis in children, the attending physician will tell. The set of procedures will depend on the severity of the disease, the stage and form of the problem, as well as the general well-being and the presence of additional complications in a small patient. Therapeutic procedures are divided into several areas.
Restore nasal breathing
Treatment of sinusitis at home in children is possible if there are no complications and purulent discharge. The doctor will recommend drugs to restore nasal breathing and remove pathological discharge from the sinuses.
For this, salt solutions are often used - "Aquamaris", "Salin". The drugs are on sale in the pharmacy. Such funds will help partially remove the swelling of the mucous membrane, moisturize excessively dry passages and contribute to the removal of bacterial contents. It is important that saline solutions are not addictive and do not give adverse reactions.
Rinse nose
With a catarrhal form of the disease, the doctor may prescribe sinus lavage with saline. However, the procedure is not recommended for children under 8 years of age and with purulent discharge. Otherwise, the infection can spread further and affect the middle ear, which can lead to hearing problems.
If catarrhal sinusitis in a child, home treatment involves the use of a container with a narrow nose and warm water. The child is asked to stand near the sink and tilt his head slightly to the side. Then you need to carefully pour a little fluid into the upper nostril. The tilted head contributes to the fact that water flows from another nasal passage. The procedure can be repeated twice on both sides.
Washing the nose cleanses its cavity well. Together with water, mucus comes out of the sinuses. Therefore, breathing is restored, swelling decreases and the concentration of bacteria becomes much less.
However, it must be remembered that such a procedure is prohibited for diseases of the middle ear. Illiterate flushing can also lead to complications. Therefore, how to treat sinusitis in children with washing, you need to find out from the ENT doctor. He will talk about the technique and show the features of the procedure.
The use of vasoconstrictor drugs
If the child has difficulty with nasal breathing and nasal congestion prevents him from eating and sleeping normally, then the doctor will recommend the use of vasoconstrictors. The most popular are Nazivin, Nazol Baby, Vibrocil. However, their use must be strictly limited and not urgently needed. Drugs are addictive and can cause persistent vasoconstriction. More than 7-10 days to use them is not recommended.
Healing procedures
If necessary, the ENT doctor can prescribe a nose wash according to Proets. The method consists in moving liquids. The procedure is carried out in a medical office. The child is placed on the couch, the doctor uses a special tube to pour fluid into one nasal passage, his assistant removes fluid from the other nostril. It is important that the water does not get into the throat, you must ask the child to constantly repeat the syllable "ku" during the procedure. In this case, the entrance to the nasopharynx is blocked by a soft palate. For children, this manipulation is painless and practically does not cause discomfort. Often it is called "Cuckoo" because of the characteristic word that must be constantly pronounced.
If the child has a purulent form of sinusitis or a blurred clinic that requires an accurate diagnosis, it will be necessary to take a puncture of the maxillary sinus mucosa. In this case, local anesthesia is used and the puncture is carried out with a special needle. After this, the sinuses are washed with bactericidal solutions. If bilateral sinusitis is diagnosed in a child, then drainage is often left. This allows access to internal passages and continuous flushing.
Folk remedies for the treatment of sinusitis in children
There are pretty good remedies for eliminating the inflammation problem that our grandmothers used. To facilitate nasal breathing, remove puffiness and remove mucus, you can prepare droplets from beet juice, Kalanchoe or aloe. Such funds can be used, but first you need to get the permission of the attending physician. The use of onion juice for instillation is completely prohibited. Onions can cause severe irritation or even burn of the delicate mucous membrane inside the nose.
A good effect gives a massage of the maxillary sinuses. Techniques and techniques of movements can be shown by an ENT doctor. It is also recommended to perform breathing exercises with the baby in order to improve the natural outflow of mucus.
Having considered how to treat sinusitis in a child at home, one must not forget about a regular examination with a specialist. Only washing the nose, instilling drops and massage can not do. It is likely that antibiotic therapy will be needed.
Antibiotics for sinusitis in a child
Antibiotics are necessary to completely eliminate the purulent, inflammatory process. Of course, it is best to conduct a study on the bacterial component and identify sensitivity to various antibiotics. But this does not always happen. In this case, the doctor may prescribe pills from a wide range of actions.
Often, the doctor recommends antibiotics from the category of penicillins and cephalosporins. If the baby has individual allergic reactions to this series, then macrolides are prescribed. It is good if the data of the tests performed accurately show the causative agent of the disease. Then the specialist will select the medicine, taking into account the sensitivity of microorganisms to it.
The list of antibiotics is quite wide. However, only the attending physician will recommend their names and a prescription will be required for the purchase.
It is important to remember that the mandatory treatment regime for sinusitis in a child involves the inclusion of antihistamines. Medicines help relieve swelling and eliminate allergic manifestations. Often prescribed "Loratadin" and "Fenistil."
Physiotherapy
If you treat sinusitis at home, the child may be offered physiotherapy. There is no need for hospitalization for this, but the effect of them is quite noticeable. Procedures help in improving the outflow of mucus. UHF relieves inflammation, laser therapy is aimed at eliminating edema. There are a lot of methods, but each has its own indications. Therefore, recommendations are given only by a doctor.
Preventative measures
So that the child does not know problems with nasal breathing, it is necessary to strengthen his immunity. Then, in the face of viral diseases, a small organism can resist and will not receive complications in the form of sinusitis. The child needs to provide a balanced diet, feasible and regular physical activity and gradual hardening.
If you adhere to the following recommendations, then you can significantly reduce the risk of sinusitis to a minimum:
- The room should always have clean, cool and humid air.
- If problems arise with the nasopharynx, then timely and competent treatment is necessary.
- Do not use vasoconstrictor drops without urgent need. It is better to replace them with saline solutions.
- With nasal congestion, massage and breathing exercises can be performed.
Regular walks, physical activity and good nutrition often become a decisive factor in good health.
conclusions
A fairly common problem is sinusitis in a child. Parents' reviews indicate that if you go to the doctor in time, follow all his recommendations and provide fresh, cool air in the house, then the prognosis is always favorable.
If the doctor prescribes antibiotics, you can not refuse. Parents can find out the validity of their appointment, but it is impossible to completely ignore the advice of a specialist.