"Sinusitis", which is well known in adults, is a common and important disease in children. But it can often be overlooked and neglected. Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Specialist Op.Dr. Bahadır Baykal gave important information about sinusitis in children.
Op.Dr.Bahadır Baykal said, “The infection that occurs with the inflammation of the air spaces (sinuses) located between the facial bones is called 'sinusitis'. There are two types of sinusitis, acute and chronic (chronic). In acute sinusitis; There may be signs of nasal congestion, yellow, green or bloody nasal discharge, pain around the eyes, increased facial or headache with leaning forward, fever. In chronic sinusitis, dark nasal discharge, postnasal drip, nasal congestion and a settled headache are more common than these symptoms. A sinusitis that lasts more than three months means chronicity.
Op.Dr.Bahadır Baykal said, “People with nasal congestion are at risk. Curved or broken nasal bone, excessive growth of nasal concha, presence of polyps make the person more sensitive to sinusitis. Sinusitis is also common in those with allergies. If the flu lasts more than a week in a person, it is most likely sinusitis. "We definitely do not recommend plane travel, especially when there is a mild cold flu, conditions that create pressure changes in this way facilitate the development of sinusitis. It is a factor that facilitates smoking."
Op.Dr.Bahadır Baykal said, “Children can have sinusitis. Although the symptoms vary according to the age of the child, we rarely see headache in children under 5 years old. In older children, headache is more common in sinusitis. Especially in children with nocturnal coughs, nasal discharge and bad breath, the possibility of sinusitis should come to mind if there is a runny nose that lasts longer than 10 days. ”He continued his words as follows: There is also a yellow and green nasal discharge with cough. Sinusitis may have bad breath due to nasal discharge. The person usually thinks that his tongue has a taste of rust, unless someone else says it, he will not notice the bad breath. "
Op.Dr.Bahadır Baykal said, “The first option in the treatment of sinusitis is medication. For this purpose, antibiotics, drugs that reduce nasal discharge and swelling of the tissues in the nose (decongestants) and drugs that reduce the dark secretions in the upper respiratory tract are used together. When it develops, it should not be forgotten that the inflammation spreads to the eye and can cause serious damage to the eye. In this case, you should take your child to the ENT doctor immediately. This situation is valid for adults. Antibiotic treatment should be applied for 7-10 days in patients with dark-colored nasal discharge, high fever and severe headache.
Op.Dr.Bahadır Baykal said, “Unless complications develop in acute sinusitis, surgery is rarely needed. If the person has not benefited from long-term medication and his sinusitis has become chronic, surgery should be considered as an alternative method. If the patient, whose chronic sinusitis is evaluated by tomography, has nasal bone curvature, nasal growth or polyp, these should be treated together with sinusitis.