Allergy and sinus conditions are common in children, whose sinuses continue to develop well into the teen years. Allergy and sinus symptoms are similar, making a proper diagnosis a bit challenging. An ENT specialist can recommend diagnostic testing to help pinpoint the cause of what is ailing your child.
Symptoms
Symptoms of allergy and sinus conditions include runny nose, sneezing, stuffiness, coughing, sore throat, wheezing, headaches, snoring, and itchy eyes (these may also be watery) and nose. In addition to a physical examination, your child’s doctor will carefully inspect the ears, nose, and throat for signs of infection. Skin and blood tests will likely be administered to determine whether an allergen trigger is responsible.
Treatment
When your child is diagnosed with allergies and avoiding the allergen trigger isn’t possible, treatment consists of a variety of medications. These include antihistamines, decongestants, nasal corticosteroid sprays, eye drops, and prescription drugs. Severe cases that don’t respond to medical treatment may require immunotherapy, usually delivered through weekly injections (i.e., allergy shots). This enables the body to build up a tolerance to the allergen over time, bringing long-term symptom relief.
Sinusitis can be treated with home remedies (e.g., warm compresses, drinking lots of liquids, using a humidifier to moisten dry air) and medications to relieve symptoms. Chronic cases may require surgery.
