Three of the most frequently asked questions are answered here.
When does acute sinusitis become chronic?
When you have frequent sinusitis, or the infection lasts three months or more, it could be considered chronic sinusitis. Symptoms of chronic sinusitis may be less severe than those of acute; however, untreated chronic sinusitis can cause changes to the sinuses that sometimes requires surgery to repair.
Can children suffer from sinus infections?
Your child’s sinuses are not fully developed until around age 20. However, children can still suffer from sinus infections. Although small, the maxillary (behind the cheek) and ethmoid (between the eyes) sinuses are present at birth. Sinusitis is difficult to diagnose in children because respiratory infections are more frequent, and symptoms can be subtle. The following symptoms may indicate a sinus infection in your child:
- a “cold” lasting more than 7 to 10 days, sometimes with low-grade fever
- thick yellow-green nasal drainage
- post-nasal drip, sometimes leading to or exhibited as sore throat, cough, bad breath, nausea and/or vomiting
- headache, usually not before age 6
- irritability or fatigue
- swelling around the eyes
When to Seek Help
If these symptoms persist despite appropriate medical therapy, care should be taken to seek an underlying cause. The role of allergy and frequent upper respiratory infections should be considered. Balloon sinus dilation and irrigation along with adenoidectomy improve symptoms by 90% compared to just 50% with adenoidectomy alone.
Schedule an Appointment
If you would like to schedule an appointment with the Tennessee Sinus and Snoring Center please click on the link below.