Sinusitis
Lee Health: Your Trusted Health Partner for Treating Sinusitis
Lee Health Pediatric ENTs offer years of experience to help you and your family understand your sinusitis care needs. We are here to help you navigate your treatment options and ensure exceptional and individualized care.
What is sinusitis (sinus infection)?
Sinusitis also referred to as sinus infection is swelling or inflammation of the tissue that lines your sinuses. Your sinuses are the hollow spaces within the bones between your eyes and behind your cheekbones and forehead. They produce mucus which keeps your nose moist and protects against dust, allergens, and pollutants.
Healthy sinuses are filled with air but can become blocked and filled with fluid, causing germs to grow and cause infection.
Causes of sinus blockage include:
- Common cold
- Allergic rhinitis
- Nasal polyps
- Deviated septum
Types of Sinusitis
There are several terms used to refer to different versions of sinusitis.
- Acute sinusitis usually starts suddenly with cold-like symptoms and lasts 2 to 4 weeks.
- Subacute sinusitus usually lasts 4 to 12 weeks.
- Chronic sinusitis symptoms last 12 weeks or longer.
- Recurrent sinusitis happens several times a year.
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Sinusitis Symptoms
While chronic sinusitis and acute sinusitis have similar symptoms, acute is only temporary and often associated with colds. Chronic sinusitis is marked by symptoms lasting at least 12 weeks. Additionally, acute sinusitis often has fever while chronic sinusitis does not.
Common signs and symptoms of the different kinds of sinusitis include:
- Nasal inflammation
- Runny nose
- Postnasal drainage
- Congested nose causing difficulty breathing through your nose
- Pain, tenderness and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead
- Reduced sense of smell and taste
Additional signs and symptoms include:
- Ear pain
- Headache
- Aching in your upper jaw and teeth
- Cough or throat clearing
- Sore throat
- Bad breath
- Fatigue
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Pediatric Ear, Nose & Throat - Golisano Children's Health Center
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Pediatric Ear, Nose & Throat - HealthPark Commons
Causes of Sinusitis (Sinus Infection)
While sinusitis can happen to any child, some children are more likely to get sinusitis due to:
- Nasal polyps are tissue growths that can block sinuses or nasal passages.
- Deviated nasal septum is a crooked septum, or wall between the nostrils. This restricts the sinus passages making the symptoms of sinusitis worse.
- Other medical conditions such as HIV, cystic fibrosis or other immune system-related diseases can lead to nasal blockages.
- Respiratory tract infections inflame and thicken your sinus membranes blocking mucus drainage and contributing to sinusitis symptoms.
- Allergies such as hay fever can block your sinuses increasing your risk of sinusitis
Additional Risk factors
When meeting with your pediatric ENT for your child's sinusitis concerns, it is important to get a complete medical history and share all environmental risks that could contribute to your child's sinusitis. In addition to to conditions such as those listed above, other risks/causes include:
- Asthma
- Aspirin sensitivity
- A dental infection
- A fungal infection
- Tumors
- Regular exposure to pollutants such as cigarette smoke
When to call your Lee Health Pediatric ENT:
Schedule an appointment with for your child if:
- You've had sinusitis frequently
- Your symptoms aren't improving after around 7-10 days
- Your symptoms are not responding to treatments
- Your symptoms are severe or getting worse
Take your child to see a doctor immediately if they have the following signs or symptoms, which could indicate a serious infection:
- Fever
- Swelling or redness around your eyes
- Severe headache
- Forehead swelling
- Confusion
- Double vision or other vision changes
- Stiff neck
