| What seems like common cold the first time its | | | | sinuses and nose from working properly, effectively |
| symptoms appear may actually turn out to be a case | | | | trapping more mucus within the sinuses. The immobile |
| of sinus attack. Just like when they contract the cold | | | | mucus becomes a friendly host for the virus, fungi and |
| virus, children cough, sneeze or get red noses when | | | | bacteria to breed. |
| sinus attack hits them. What makes sinus attack | | | | Prolonged conditions stretching up to two weeks |
| different from common cold is the length of time the | | | | mean that the cold virus infection has worsened to |
| affliction wears itself out. It takes victims--young and | | | | become a sinus infection. Acute sinusitis describes an |
| old--a longer time to recover from sinusitis than from | | | | infection that drags on for more than two weeks. |
| common cold. | | | | Beyond this period--stretching beyond three |
| The bones in our head and face have blank niches or | | | | months--the ailment is called chronic sinusitis. Due to |
| spaces filled with air, called sinuses. Sinuses can be | | | | their less developed immune systems, children are at |
| found at the back of the nasal cavity, on both sides of | | | | greater risk of getting hit by sinus attacks than adults. |
| the nose, inside the forehead, behind both and in | | | | Symptoms of sinusitis include bad breath, mild fever, |
| between eyes. Sinuses come in pairs; there are | | | | daytime cough, puffy eyes, and incessant nasal |
| normally four pairs in each person. They start showing | | | | discharge. There are children who also show signs of |
| as early as the first few months of conception; they | | | | crankiness, physical exhaustion, and pain in various |
| continue to develop until late adolescent age. | | | | parts of the head. |
| Why our bodies need to develp sinuses is not clear to | | | | Doctors who treat children suffering from symptoms |
| many. However, scientific studies suggest that sinuses | | | | of sinusities normally check, apart from sinuses, the |
| make us feel less burdened by the weight of our head | | | | nose, throat, and ears for infection. They tap or press |
| due to the light air that fills them. Scientists say that if | | | | lightly the patient's forehead and cheeks. They |
| anything solid were to take the place of the air | | | | prescribe antibiotics for infections caused by bacteria. |
| pockets, our heads will become much heavier. Sinuses | | | | This medication normally takes effect within days after |
| are also believed to enhance the depth and tone of | | | | taking the dosage. But in cases of chronic sinusitis, |
| our voice. For example, our voices often sound | | | | patients need to take the dosage for a longer period |
| differently when we are suffering from common cold | | | | of time to ensure total removal of bacteria. |
| or, worse, sinus attack. | | | | Decongestants or nasal sprays dry up blocked or |
| Sinuses cover themselves with moist and thin layers | | | | runny nose. |
| of tissue called mucous membrane. This membrane | | | | Children in particular should not cease from taking the |
| makes it possible to add moisture to the air that | | | | medication until their conditions completely improve. |
| comes in through normal breathing. They likewise | | | | Doctor's advice, particularly when patients are not |
| secrete a gooey liquid called mucus that fills parts of | | | | showing any improvement for an unusually prolonged |
| the nose, also known as snot. This liquid serves to | | | | period of time, is necessary. The doctor may |
| collect dust and germs that fly in the air before they | | | | recommend sinus CT scan for the afflicted child. |
| can go farther inside the body. | | | | Surgery is an option. |
| Mucus membranes of sinuses surrounding the nasal | | | | If anything good can be said about sinusitis, it is this: |
| area grow tiny hairs or cilia. These hairs sway in ways | | | | The infection is not contagious. Unless discomforts are |
| that facilitate mucus flow in and out of the nose. The | | | | such that they are keeping the infected child from |
| cilia are disabled and the back flow of the mucus gets | | | | moving about, he or she may conitnue going to school |
| disrupted when a person contracts the cold virus. This | | | | or mingling with friends without fear of contaminating |
| explains why persons with cold develop symptoms like | | | | anyone. What the child needs to avoid are allergies |
| runny nose and clogged nasal cavities. The infection | | | | and environmental pollutants. This will at least reduce |
| causes the swelling of mucus lining within the nasal | | | | the risks of going down with the infection--again. |
| area. This prevents the tiny passages between the | | | | |