Sinusitis - Rhinosinusitis (Pediatrics - PEDS)

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It is an inflammation of the mucous membrane that covers the inside of the paranasal sinuses. The most common cause in children is a viral infection, coinciding with the cold. It manifests with nasal discharge and coughing, a blocked nose with continuous dense greenish mucous being expelled, pain in the area of the nose and/or headache in the frontal region. Diagnosis is clinical and based on the symptoms. If the cause is a viral infection, no specific treatment is required; if it is a bacterial infection the treatment of choice is antibiotics.
Bibliographic references
  1. Ellen R Wald. Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis in children: Clinical features and diagnosis. UpToDate. Abril 2016
  2. Wald ER. Effectiveness of amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium in the treatment of acute bacterial sinusitis in children. Pediatrics 2009; 124:9.
  3. Cherry JD. Rhinosinusitis. In: Feigin and Cherry’s Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 7th ed, Cherry JD, Harrison GJ, Kaplan SL, et al (Eds), Elsevier Saunders, Philadelphia 2014. p.193.
  4. Wolf G. Development of the paranasal sinuses in children: implications for paranasal sinus surgery. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1993; 102:705.
  5. Wald ER. Rhinitis and acute and chronic sinusitis. In: Pediatric Otolaryngology, 2nd ed, Bluestone CD, Stool SE, Sheetz MD (Eds), Saunders, Philadelphia 1990. p.729.
Author
Dr. Patricia Sánchez
Copyright
© TeckelMedical 2026

Symptoms

    The sinuses are very sensitive to the touch


    Sinus pain


    Green mucus in the nose


    Headache in the forehead area


    Nose blocked with mucus

Symptoms to watch out for

Fever not relieved by antipyretics (paracetamol, ibuprofen)
Sudden severe pain in the face/head
Double vision
Difficulty thinking clearly
Neck stiffness
Swelling or redness around one or both eyes.

Self-care

Take over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatories.
For nasal congestion and runny nose, use nasal inhalers containing antihistamines and/or decongestants.
Do not take antibiotics without a doctor's prescription.
Inhale water vapor to keep the throat moist 2 times a day.