SAEDNEWS: If your child’s stuffy nose isn’t improving, it could be sinus inflammation or infection. Kids with respiratory allergies are especially at risk, even without a cold.
According to Saed News, citing Nini Site, “My child’s cold isn’t improving—it’s getting worse. Why?”
If your child develops sinusitis, they may show several—or all—of the following symptoms:
Nasal congestion lasting 10 days or more.
Thick yellow or green nasal discharge.
Daytime coughing that worsens at night.
Swelling around the nose and eyes, often appearing bruised or glossy.
Pain in the cheeks, forehead, or behind the nose.
Onset of mild fever.
If you suspect your child has sinusitis, take them to a doctor immediately, as proper treatment—including antibiotics—is essential to clear the sinuses.
Understanding a little anatomy helps explain how easily sinus infections can develop. Sinuses are air-filled cavities located above, below, and beside the eyes, with a single drainage pathway into the nasal cavity.
When your child has a cold or allergy, the thin, natural lining of the sinuses becomes inflamed and swollen. Sometimes this swelling blocks the pathway between the sinus and the nose, creating the perfect environment for bacteria: warm, moist, and dark. Once bacteria grow enough, sinusitis occurs.
Most children require 2–3 weeks of antibiotics. If symptoms persist, worsen, or return after treatment, the doctor may prescribe a different antibiotic. Fortunately, the right antibiotic usually resolves the infection.
In chronic cases, underlying issues like untreated allergies, anatomical nasal problems (e.g., deviated septum), or chronic adenoid infections can make sinus drainage difficult, predisposing children to recurrent sinusitis. Your child’s doctor may refer them to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist.
The ENT specialist may recommend X-rays or CT scans of the sinuses and may suggest treatments such as:
Sinus irrigation (saline washes, sometimes under anesthesia)
Adenoid removal surgery, sometimes combined with sinus irrigation
Endoscopic sinus surgery, a minimally invasive procedure that reopens blocked sinus pathways
Since sinusitis is usually a secondary infection following colds or allergies, early management of these conditions can help prevent it.
Keep your home humidified during your child’s cold to reduce inflammation and maintain thin nasal secretions.
Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids, which helps keep secretions thin.
If your child has allergies, discuss medical and environmental strategies with your doctor. Untreated long-term allergies create favorable conditions for sinusitis.
Keep your home clean and free of allergens, such as cigarette smoke, dust, and soot, which irritate the sinus lining and block nasal passages, increasing the risk of sinus infections.
Even if your child develops sinusitis, there’s no need to panic—with proper treatment and care, most children recover fully.
