Sinusitis: causes and treatment
It rides on the winter flu and disrupts children's lives, causing more coughs, fevers and stuffy noses. Learn about the main causes and some tricks to alleviate the malaise
What is it?
It is an inflammation of the mucous membrane that surrounds the sinuses, which are the bony cavities located around the nose, cheekbones and eyes. There is a continuous flow of secretion there, which helps eliminate foreign organisms, causing possible problems for the body. When this process is interrupted – due to anatomical alterations, infections and allergies , for example – viruses, bacteria or fungi manage to concentrate in the area and multiply more easily. The result? Visible sinusitis (or rhinosinusitis, as the specialists prefer).
What are the types?
As the mucosa covers the sinuses completely, the inflammation manifests itself in several points. It can be frontal (on the forehead), maxillary (cheekbones), ethmoidal (between the eyeball and the nose), sphenoidal (lateral or at the apex of the head) or pansinusitis, which affects all cavities. When treating, however, the most important thing is to know the causative agent. A virus-triggered sinusitis evolves like the fluand improves in about a week. When the trigger is bacteria, it can be classified as acute, with symptoms lasting up to 14 days, or chronic, when the crisis persists for longer. The viral and acute bacterial types are the most recurrent during childhood. There is also the possibility of fungal inflammation, more frequent in adolescents and adults – it can cause complications and, in some cases, requires surgical intervention to clear the nasal cavity.
What are the main symptoms
In children, cough is predominant. In general, it occurs with intensity in the morning and becomes more discreet throughout the day. Fever , muscle aches , runny nose, nasal obstruction and loss of appetite also characterize the problem.Headaches, despite being a striking sign in adults, are not manifested in childhood. The main reason is that the sinuses are still developing.
Is it common in childhood?
Yes, mainly because of immunological immaturity and environmental factors that facilitate the transmission of microorganisms. That's why it usually appears when the baby has already completed 6 months of life, after entering nurseries, kindergartens and schools. According to the Brazilian Society of Pedagogy (SBP), children can have more than five episodes per year. Most of the time, the trigger is flu and colds.
Are allergic children more prone to inflammation?
Yes, the propensity is higher. The account is simple: allergic processes cause inflammation of the mucous membranes and act as a ward-opener for the causes of sinusitis. In addition, the nose is usually more swollen, which impairs the elimination of secretions and favors the action of infectious agents.
How is the diagnosis made?
The evaluation is clinical and, in children, there is no need for imaging tests. The doctor takes the history and sees when the symptoms started. Differentiating the causes is difficult, but some clues help. For example, in viral sinusitis there is usually a low fever, thick nasal fluid, cough and sore throat. In the bacterial one, the fever is high (39°C), the nose is blocked and the secretion has a yellowish or darker color.
How to identify cases of chronic sinusitis?
What can trigger a crisis?
One of the main causes is the common flu, which lowers the body's guard and opens the way for bacteria. Already air-conditioned environments or very dry climate help to spread fungi that lodge in the breasts of the face. Another aggravating factor is environments with excessive dust. Dust causes allergies, which causes swelling in the nose and favors the accumulation of secretions.
How is the treatment done?
Viral sinusitis is treated like the flu, with pain relievers and decongestants that control the symptoms. Like other viral infections, the tendency is to improve within ten days. Bacterial ones require antibiotics prescribed by the pediatrician. The same type of remedy is indicated in chronic cases, treatment often complemented with decongestants, expectorants and topical corticosteroids. They are given for a minimum of three weeks.
And in everyday life, what can help to avoid the problem?
Turning off the air conditioning and running away from very dry environments is a way to get around possible triggers. But the biggest secret is hydration. Water plays a decisive role when it comes to sinusitis, as it humidifies and dilutes secretions. Thus, they are removed more easily. As a reference, babies aged 7 to 12 months should drink 800 ml of fluids a day (including breast milk). Between 1 and 3 years, it is 900 ml. From 4 to 8, intake should be 1.2 liters. In the driest and coldest seasons, washing your nose daily is a good alternative to prevent the disease (see opposite). Another tip is steam inhalation, which makes a complete cleaning of the airways. Nose dryness favors the accumulation of impurities and facilitates the proliferation of bacteria.
Is there anything that can be done at home to ease the symptoms?
Since the main manifestations are a stuffy nose and cough, nasal washing is a good way out. With a dropper, pour three drops of saline into each nostril. At this point, the trick is to tilt the child's head back a little to ensure that the solution gets into the nose. The procedure can be done up to three times a day. Thus, the airways are free and your child breathes relieved.
Does food help prevent sinusitis?
For sure. Foods rich in vitamin C, such as oranges and acerola, are great options for strengthening the immune system. Drinking hot tea and eating pineapple, a fruit that has expectorant properties, can ease the symptoms.see more
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