The question on many people’s minds is what are the symptoms and treatment of sinus infection in kids. The answer to this question may surprise you.
KAMPALA | NOW THEN DIGITAL — In this article, we will discuss the symptoms of sinus infection in kids and how they should be treated. If you are looking for ways to cure your child’s cold, there are several ways you can do so.
- Seeing your paediatrician for symptoms of a sinus infection is crucial for your kids’ overall health. Oftentimes, a cold will last three to five days, with the symptoms peaking at that time and gradually improving. It’s important to avoid exposing your child to other people who have upper respiratory infections, as these could spread to your child’s sinuses.
- Symptoms of sinusitis can be difficult to differentiate between a sinus infection and a simple cold. However, a pediatrician will be able to tell if a child has a bacterial infection by examination and the progression of symptoms. A computed tomography scan may be required for older children with unclear symptoms or for children who are not responding to home remedies.
- For a chronic sinus infection, surgery may be recommended, although it is not done often in kids. Medications for a sinus infection can also include allergy medication, antibiotics, or decongestant nasal sprays. Children with chronic sinusitis may also benefit from immunotherapy.
First of all, you can try antihistamines, but they are not always helpful in the long run. Over-the-counter medications can help as well. If your child’s cold symptoms last for more than a week, you should get your child checked by a doctor.
Antihistamines are not the best option for treating sinusitis, and may only make things worse. Your doctor may recommend different antibiotics or re-examination.
Antihistamines do not help sinusitis
Treatment for sinusitis in children must be based on the underlying cause and not an allergy. Antihistamines do not help sinusitis symptoms in kids unless it’s caused by an allergy.
There are a number of other medical conditions that may mimic sinusitis symptoms. For these reasons, it’s important to seek a health care professional’s advice.
While many parents and doctors may suggest antihistamines and decongestants, they are generally not an effective treatment for children with acute sinusitis or other upper respiratory tract infections.
These drugs may cause significant side effects, including irritability, insomnia, and somnolence.
Antihistamines can even be harmful to children and may lead to a prolonged middle-ear effusion. Until more research has been conducted, antihistamines and decongestants are not recommended for use in kids with sinusitis.
Herbal treatments
Natural treatments for sinus infection symptoms in kids can ease the pain and discomfort caused by the disease. They should be used as soon as you notice symptoms. Some of the natural remedies for sinus infections in kids include ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and warm compresses.
An over-the-counter saline solution can also be used to wash the nose and relieve pain. These natural remedies may be helpful in treating a sinus infection in children but cannot cure a chronic one.
During the cold and heating seasons, your home should be at 45 to 50% humidity to prevent an infection. This will also make your sinuses less likely to develop an infection. Keep humidifiers clean to prevent mold from growing. Steam from a hot shower may also help with the symptoms.
Running the shower while wearing a hat or scarf can keep the sinuses moist and open. If you have a steam generator in your home, try it before bedtime.
Over-the-counter medications
In addition to taking sinus medication, a child should drink plenty of liquids to support the immune system and keep the sinuses lubricated.
This is especially important for children because many of them only have intermittent access to water at school. Make sure to keep a bottle of water handy for your child, and pack a bottle for school in case your child gets dehydrated.
If symptoms continue, visit your child’s pediatrician. If they’re more severe, you may even need to give an antibiotic. When a child has cold and sinusitis symptoms, their doctor will prescribe an antibiotic to kill the bacteria causing the symptoms.
Usually, the cough and nasal discharge will go away in the first two to three days. It’s important to stick with the medication for the prescribed period of time, though. Discontinuing the treatment too soon can lead to a relapse of the infection.
Avoiding antibiotics
If you’re concerned about a child’s symptoms, consider the risks associated with using antibiotics. While antibiotics are effective at treating sinus infections, there are also some risks. These include causing a serious side effect known as Reye syndrome.
If you suspect your child has a sinus infection, call your pediatrician and discuss your treatment options. There are many alternative treatments that will help your child’s sinuses heal without the use of antibiotics.
The first reason to avoid antibiotics for sinus infection symptoms in kids is the possibility that a cold might be an underlying cause of an infection. The longer the symptoms last, the more likely it is that your child has a sinus infection.
In addition, antibiotics are usually given to patients who are less healthy or have other conditions. If you still have symptoms a week after stopping antibiotics, you may be suffering from an underlying disease that makes antibiotics ineffective.
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