Do you know why we have sinuses? Don't feel bad if you don't. The experts also are puzzled about why we have four pairs of empty, air-filled cavities in the face, and why they cause so many problems.

However, physicians do know how sinuses function. Lined by the same type of mucous membranes that coat the back of your nose and throat, sinuses take in air and drain out mucus containing germs and debris. 
   
Children often are plagued by sinus problems. Factors that affect your child's sinuses include:

• Allergies
• Family history
• Infection
• Pollution
• Second-hand smoke

These factors may work together to create more sinus problems for your child. For instance, a child is more likely to develop sinus trouble if one or both parents tend to be congested, explained Dr. Vanthaya Gan, a pediatrician on the medical staff at Children's and professor of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center. "If that child is allergic or around second-hand smoke, it will worsen the condition," Dr. Gan said.
   
What to look for
Exposure to allergens and second-hand smoke can make your child more susceptible to sinusitis, an inflammation and bacterial infection that can cause pain and swelling on either side of the face, the bridge of the nose and under the eyes. If your child has a fever of more than 101 degrees, thick, colored discharge, fatigue or a cold that is not getting better after 10 to 14 days, see a doctor.

The common cold usually causes clear nasal discharge and a low-grade fever. Your child simply won't feel as ill from a cold as from sinusitis. The clear discharge from a viral cold can turn green after three to four days, which is not necessarily indicative of bacterial sinusitis, and usually gets better in seven to 10 days.
   
Allergies also will not cause fever or colored discharge, and allergies become worse when your child is around the offending substance.

Treatments
Treatment for a sinus infection includes antibiotics, decongestants and nasal irrigation with saline nasal sprays to help open up the nasal blockage. Avoid nasal decongestant sprays after more than three to five consecutive days, since they can worsen swelling after that. It's also very important to drink more water.
    
For persistent or chronic sinusitis, surgery may be necessary to widen the sinus channels.

Keep Sinuses Moist
It's important for your child's sinuses to remain moist, to improve breathing and reduce the chance of infection. You may use saline (salt water) nose drops or saline gel to help moisturize your child's nose. You also can make your own salt water nose drops. Here's what you need:

• 1 cup of water.
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon of salt.
• Mix together, shake well and spray or drop this solution in nasal passages several times a day. Dr. Gan recommends making the saline solution fresh daily to prevent bacterial growth.

Resources
Children's Medical Center
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology