B4-U-BUY(tm) FYI - Beware Of Your Child's Sniffles

Beware Of Your Child's Sniffles

It is often hard for parents to differentiate the symptoms of common early-season colds from other conditions. The sniffles you attribute to your child's first sustained indoor exposure to a roomful of children, or the allergy symptoms that coincide with the peak of ragweed season, may actually be sinusitis.

Because sinusitis, an infection of the nasal cavities located above, below and behind the eyes, can be a complication of a cold or allergy, the symptoms of sinusitis in children are often misdiagnosed as a lingering cold or allergy. Sinusitis affects more than five million Americans under the age of eighteen each year, and countless school days are lost as a result of it.

"An unresolved cold or upper respiratory infection is the most common cause of sinusitis in children. Ten percent of colds in children lead to sinusitis. A sinus infection can develop if the congestion, coughing and sneezing of a cold are not properly treated," says Michael Kaliner, M.D., Medical Director, Institute for Asthma & Allergy at Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C.

Complete this checklist to determine if your child has sinusitis:

Your child has lingering seasonal allergies.

Your child has recurring colds that don't go away completely.

Your child's nasal discharge is dark green or yellow.

Instead of improving, your child's symptoms have been getting worse.

Your child has unexplained headaches, toothaches, earaches or facial pain.

Your child has a dry, persistent, non-productive nighttime cough.

Your child has a loss of a sense of smell.

Your child has bad breath.

If you checked two or more of the above, your child may have sinusitis, which requires physician supervision and treatment.

A variety of medications are available to treat the symptoms of sinusitis. Your child's physician may prescribe a course of pediatric strength medications, including antibiotics to sterilize the sinuses and free them of infection, and decongestants (e.g., Synª-Rx) to help relieve congestion, shrink swollen nasal tissue and promote drainage. In more severe, or recurring, cases of sinusitis your child's physician may suggest a topical nasal corticosteroid (e.g., Dexacortª Turbinaire®) to lessen and/or inhibit nasal swelling.

If your child's cold lingers for more than ten days, see your family doctor or pediatrician. If allergies are present they may want to have an allergy evaluation. A proper diagnosis and effective treatment can enable your child to feel better and perform better at school or play.(NAPSI)

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