Catarrhal sinusitis in children

Sinusitis is a disease that affects people of all ages, including children. This disease is accompanied by inflammation of the nasal membranes and sinus mucosa. The disease is one-sided and bilateral - depends on the symptoms.

The disease affects the paranasal sinuses either from one side or from both sides. Sinusitis is distinguished by acute, subacute, depending on the duration of the disease. If the disease in a child lasts more than two months, then this indicates a chronic sinusitis. Catarrhal sinusitis in children is a mild form of acute sinusitis.

Causes of

The cause of catarrhal sinusitis is often a viral infection. Symptoms of sinusitis itself does not cause infection, it becomes the trigger for the secondary stratification of bacterial infection on the sinus mucosa, which provokes the development of inflammation. Sinusitis, which occurs when viral colds, often accompanied by swelling of the nasal mucosa. As a result, nasal holes, which are already narrow, are closed.

In the nasal sinuses, mucus is produced constantly, but as soon as inflammation begins, production is intensified. In addition, against the background of a weakened immune system, bacteria that are constantly present in the sinuses begin to multiply rapidly. Further, leukocytes are attached to the bacteria and as a result of this compound pus is formed in the sinus. Fungal infection can also cause sinusitis. Hay fever, allergic rhinitis in some cases causes sinusitis.

Catarrhal( acute) sinusitis in children and its symptoms

Acute( catarrhal) sinusitis is manifested by local and general signs of inflammation. To the general reaction, headache, general malaise, fever, normal changes in blood, weakness can be classified. The general symptoms are non-specific, since the local manifestation of the disease plays a leading role in diagnosing the disease.

In acute sinusitis, children often complain of a headache, discharge from the nasopharynx and nose, which are pathological in nature( the secret flows down the back wall of the pharynx).Also, patients often complain of difficulty in nasal breathing, often accompanied by a sense of smell. According to the patients most often the headache is concentrated in the frontotemporal parts of the head and increases with tilts.

The defeat of the sphenoid sinus is usually accompanied by a persistent headache, which occurs exclusively at night and centers in the occipital parts and in the center of the head. In some cases, the headache is not observed, especially if the outflow of exudate well goes through natural anastomosis.

With sinusitis, obstruction of nasal breathing occurs due to obstruction of the nasal passages with hyperplasia or swelling of the mucous membrane, and also if there are pathological secretions in the nasal passages. If one side of the sinus is affected, the corresponding side stops breathing.

Treatment of sinusitis

Treatment of the described disease in the child involves the elimination of infections, normalization of ventilation and drainage of the paranasal sinuses, elimination of symptoms of the disease.

General treatment for symptoms of sinusitis

  • For colds and runny nose accompanied by symptoms of sinusitis, it is recommended that you do not leave the house outside for several days, especially if the weather is cold.
  • To facilitate nasal congestion and normalization of the general condition, it is recommended to drink liquid in a warm form, to do inhalations using essential oils( eucalyptus, pine, mint), to take warm baths
  • . When the body temperature rises, it is recommended to take antipyretic drugs and medicines that remove inflammation.

The use of vasoconstrictive medications

The main method of treatment of the disease under discussion is the use of vasoconstrictive drugs from the common cold. The use of such medications is aimed at eliminating the edema of the nasal mucosa, restoring the ventilation of the paranasal sinuses and normal nose breathing. However, when using any vasoconstrictor, remember that it should take no longer than 5-7 days.

For catarrhal sinusitis in children, it is safer to use preparations containing xylometazoline for the treatment of colds.