Sinus infection in babies, flu, or common cold is mainly the common reason behind the stuffy nose and other similar symptoms (1). In these symptoms, the tissue lining of the nasal cavity and the sinus regions get swollen due to the blood vessels’ inflammation that occurs after the infection (2) (3). However, both sinusitis and the common cold are different from each other, and this difference can be pointed out by looking at the symptoms and age of the baby/child. In the case of the common cold, the symptoms usually resolve themselves within seven to ten days, whereas in the case of sinusitis, they might last for about 12 days or longer (4). Read this post to know more about the causes, signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sinus infection in infants.
What Is Sinus Infection?
Sinuses are small air spaces in the bones around the nose. Four sets of hollow spaces are located in the cheekbones, forehead, on the sides of the nose bridge, and behind nasal passages in front of the brain. Sinuses in the cheekbones are called maxillary sinus, forehead – frontal sinus, behind nasal passages – ethmoid sinuses, and deep in the brain – sphenoid sinus. The sinus cavities only develop with age – they are not yet present in the newborn: The maxillary sinus develops around three to five years, the frontal sinus closer to five years and the deeper located sphenoid sinus only in adolescence. The infection attacks these air spaces in the bones, and sometimes they are swollen. In simple terms, sinusitis is an inflammation of the lining of the nose and sinuses. The mucous membranes that line the mouth and the nose also line the sinuses (5). Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinus due to viral or bacterial infections (6). Depending on the duration for which the symptoms stay, it can be categorized into the following types (7):
Acute: Acute sinusitis is a condition where the symptoms last less than four weeks and improve with treatment.
Sub-acute: The symptoms last four to eight weeks and do not subside with initial treatment.
Chronic: This is a condition of repeated acute sinusitis or previous infections, which were inadequately treated. The symptoms last more than eight weeks.
Recurrent: As the name suggests, recurrent is a condition where acute sinusitis repeats three or more times a year. You should consult an otolaryngologist (an ear, nose, and throat specialist) in this case.
So, if you suspect that your child is suffering from sinusitis, it is wise to consult a pediatrician promptly. This helps in determining the causes correctly and deciding on the appropriate treatment.
Symptoms Of Sinus Infection
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, cold symptoms such as nasal discharge and a cough that lasts more than ten days without any improvement, indicate a sinus infection (8). Check for the following symptoms of sinus infection in children: Note: A low-grade fever is a body temperature above 100.4°F or 38°C and below 103°F or 39.4°C. In rare cases, a bacterial sinus infection could spread to the central nervous system (CNS) or the eye, showing symptoms such as:
Increasing irritability Persistent vomiting Swelling and/or redness around the eyes Sensitivity to light
Keep a check on your child’s symptoms and do not delay in consulting a pediatrician. In case your child has been suffering from chronic sinusitis, immediate medical intervention is warranted. Chronic sinusitis can significantly impact the quality of life.
Causes For Sinus Infection In Babies
Sinus infection is generally seen after a cold, an allergic inflammation, or upper respiratory infection (URI). However, Mayo Clinic’s Allergic Diseases Research Laboratory researcher, Dr. David Sherris, says that the cause of chronic sinusitis has not been known so far. “Our studies indicate that fungus is likely the cause of nearly all of these problems. And it is not an allergic reaction, but an immune reaction,” Dr. Sherries adds. According to her team, the primary cause of chronic sinusitis is the reaction of the immune system to fungi. The researchers studied 210 patients and found 40 different kinds of fungi in their mucus (9).
Streptococcus pneumonia Haemophilus influenzae Moraxella catarrhalis
Abnormalities in the nose structure Cleft palate Diving and swimming Enlarged adenoids Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Tooth infections Trauma to the nose Secondhand smoking Foreign objects stuck in the nose
Pediatric sinusitis cannot be diagnosed easily at home as the symptoms are general and often overlap with the symptoms of common cold and allergy. Thus, to get the right diagnosis, prompt pediatric consultation is necessary.
How To Diagnose Sinusitis In Babies?
Many parents, and in some cases, even the doctor may misdiagnose a sinus infection. A runny nose with green mucus might not be a sign of sinusitis. It could be a common cold, which does not need specific treatment. An ENT specialist will thoroughly examine the nose, throat, and ears of the baby and ask you about the history of such attacks, to diagnose the medical condition. Additional tests done to diagnose sinusitis are mentioned next (11).
A computed tomographic (CT) scan helps in determining the development of the child’s sinuses and blockage if any. The diagnostic imaging procedure combines X-ray and computer technology to produce axial or vertical images of the body.
MRI scans use invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs.
Cultures from the sinuses are collected and grown in the lab conditions to diagnose the infection.
Once the diagnosis is made, your doctor will prescribe the treatment accordingly. Most often, the treatment would be simple.
How Will The Doctor Treat Sinusitis?
After the doctor confirms the sinusitis infection in your baby, they may suggest the following treatments (12). If your baby’s nose still seems to be stuffed and is causing discomfort, other alternatives like nasal aspirator or nasal bulb syringe to clean the baby’s nose could also be tried under pediatric consultation. Note: Do not give antihistamines and over-the-counter decongestants to babies less than two years old (13). Endoscopic sinus surgery is an option for severe sinus infection. It is a functional surgery that involves the doctor opening the natural drainage pathway of the child’s sinuses to make it wider. Opening up the sinuses allows air circulation that eventually results in the reduced number of sinus infections (14). In some other severe cases, surgical treatment may involve the removal of adenoid tissue from behind the nose. The adenoid tissue may not directly block the sinuses, but its infection, called adenoiditis, causes symptoms similar to sinusitis (15). Children with sinus infection become cranky as they would find it difficult to breathe. It could be an extremely difficult situation not only for the child but also for the parents. So, it is good to try and prevent the attack rather than focusing on the treatment.
How To Prevent The Risk Of Sinusitis In Children?
For sinusitis, prevention is not easy, yet a few steps could help keep your baby safe (16).
Keep your child away from known allergens. Minimize their exposure to pollutants, such as tobacco smoke. Reduce the baby’s daycare time. Treat the stomach acid reflux disease if found in your baby. Keep the atmosphere in your baby’s room moist. It stops cold from worsening. Get the best treatment for allergies, if any. Keep your home clean and clear of dust and smoke. Use a humidifier to maintain the humidity of the room at 45% to 50%. Allow fresh air to enter the house. Maintain hygiene to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Next, we address a few commonly asked questions about sinusitis in babies.
The sinuses around the eye and the brain are separated by just a thin membrane. So, if the infection spreads to the passages around the eye, it could also penetrate through the membrane of the brain, causing meningitis. Infection in the bones is called osteomyelitis. Infection in the tissues surrounding the eyes is called orbital cellulitis.
