Preventing sinusitis in children when the weather changes

Rhinosinusitis is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa and paranasal sinuses. The disease starts from causes such as upper respiratory tract infections, rhinitis, and adenoiditis. Anatomical abnormalities of the nasal cavity such as deviated septum, overdeveloped adenoid adenoids, adenoid adenoids cause swelling of the child’s nasal mucosa, blocked sinus openings leading to fluid stagnation in the sinuses, leading to sinusitis over time. .

MSc.BS.CKII Tran Thi Thuy Hang, Head of the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Ear, Nose and Throat Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Tam Anh General Clinic, District 7, said the weather changes continuously, every morning. Afternoon sunlight and rain increase the risk of respiratory diseases, especially sinusitis, in children.

Children with sinusitis have symptoms such as fever, persistent sore throat, thick green or yellow nasal discharge, foul smell, cough, stuffy nose, and edema around the eyes. Sinusitis in children that is not detected early and treated promptly can lead to complications such as chronic pharyngitis, otitis media, bronchitis, pneumonia…

Dr. Hang guides some ways to prevent sinusitis in children when the weather changes suddenly.

Keep your child’s body warm, especially the nose and throat: Sunny weather turns to rain, a sudden change that causes children to easily get heat stroke. Parents should dress their children warmly around the neck and nose, especially when going out in the early morning and evening.

Clean your nose and throat every day: Using physiological saline solution to wash the nose and throat helps clean dirt, bacteria and mucus stagnant in the nose and throat. Salt water clears the sinus cavities, preventing infection.

Maintain indoor air humidity: Use a humidifier in the house to keep the air moist, avoid drying out the child’s nasal mucosa, and reduce the risk of sinus infection.

Avoid factors that cause allergies: Cigarette smoke, animal hair, pollen, polluted environment, can irritate the nasopharyngeal mucosa. Adults should wear masks for children when going out to protect the respiratory tract.

Avoid contact with sick people: Children should avoid contact with people who have colds or viral upper respiratory tract infections. If children have to come into contact, wash their hands immediately afterward. Children should be given the habit of washing their hands regularly, such as before eating and after using the toilet.

Limit sudden temperature changes: Parents should be careful to avoid letting children move from a hot environment to a cold environment immediately or vice versa. Because sudden changes in temperature make it difficult for the body to adapt, creating conditions for bacteria to grow and cause cold infections, leading to sinusitis.

Enhance resistance: Supplementing vitamins from fruits and vegetables, especially vitamin C, helps strengthen the immune system and fight pathogens.

When children show signs of nasal congestion due to colds or allergies, Dr. Hang recommends that parents take their children to medical facilities for examination and treatment. Parents should not arbitrarily buy medicine to treat rhinosinusitis or stop taking medicine for their children without consulting a doctor. Children with colds and rhinitis need to be treated thoroughly to prevent the inflammation from spreading to the sinuses.