Sinusitis in Children: How to Treat It

Your child is suffering from a runny or stuffy nose, facial pain, and a mucus-filled cough. Even worse, none of this goes away after a week (and potentially repeat treatment efforts). The cause could be sinusitis – and it’s likely not an illness that parents want to see linger in their children. Consider the following steps for treating sinusitis in children.

With a bit of special care, parents can help nurse their children back to health. How to start? Try these tips.

• Use a hot-steam vaporizer. Before bed, hook up a hot-steam vaporizer in your child’s room to help add moisture to the air and keep the chest and nasal passages clear. (Don’t use a cool-mist humidifier.) If your machine allows, add a drop of lavender or eucalyptus oil for extra soothing powers.
• Let your child sleep upright. If it’s comfortable enough, sleeping in an upright position can facilitate easier breathing at night.
• Create a “steam room.” In your bathroom, turn the shower on to full heat, shut the door, and allow your child (with supervision, if age-appropriate) to sit in the bathroom for 10 to 15 minutes. Have your child blow his or her nose several times through the process, and complete the steam-room process in the morning and before bedtime.
• Tap the back and chest. With an open hand, clap your child’s back and chest (in the lung area) to loose mucous. Use more pressure than a burping pat, but be conscious not to apply too much force.

If you suspect your infant or young child could have a sinus infection, then consult a doctor to determine if a decongestant, antihistamine treatment, antibiotic or nasal steroid should be used to clear the condition.

As with any medical issue, sinusitis can be damaging and lead to longer term health effects if ignored. However, with proper advice from a doctor and a bit of care at home, sinusitis can be defeated in a few weeks. To get your child back to health, call us anytime to get treatment advice or to make an appointment.