Care Advice
What You Should Know About Sinus Congestion:
- Sinus congestion is a normal part of a cold.
- Nasal discharge normally changes color during different stages of a cold. It starts as clear, then cloudy, turns yellow-green tinged, then dries up.
- Yellow or green-tinged discharge. This is more common with sleep, antihistamines or low humidity. Reason: decrease the amount of normal nasal secretions.
- Usually, nasal washes can prevent a bacterial sinus infection.
- Antibiotics are not helpful for the sinus congestion that occurs with colds.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Nasal Saline to Open a Blocked Nose:
- Use saline (salt water) nose spray (such as store brand). This helps to loosen up the dried mucus. If you don't have saline, you can use a few drops of water. Use bottled water, distilled water or boiled tap water. Teens can just splash a little water in the nose and then blow.
- Step 1: put 3 drops in each nostril.
- Step 2: blow each nostril out while closing off the other nostril. Then, do the other side.
- Step 3: repeat nose drops and blowing until the discharge is clear.
- How often: do saline rinses when your child can't breathe through the nose.
- Saline nose drops or spray can be bought in any drugstore. No prescription is needed.
- Reason for nose drops: suction or blowing alone can't remove dried or sticky mucus.
- Other option: use a warm shower to loosen mucus. Breathe in the moist air, then blow each nostril.
Fluids - Offer More:
- Try to get your child to drink lots of fluids.
- Goal: keep your child well hydrated.
- It also will thin out the mucus discharge from the nose.
- It also loosens up any phlegm in the lungs. Then it's easier to cough up.
Humidifier:
- If the air in your home is dry, use a humidifier. Reason: dry air makes nasal mucus thicker.
Decongestant Nose Spray (Age 12 years or Older):
- Use this only if the sinus still seems blocked up after nasal washes. Use the long-acting type (such as Afrin).
- Dose: 1 spray on each side. Do this 2 times per day.
- Always clean out the nose with saline before using.
- Use for 1 day. After that, use only for symptoms.
- Don't use for more than 3 days. Reason: can cause rebound congestion.
- Decongestants given by mouth (such as Sudafed) are another choice. They can also open a stuffy nose and ears. Side effects: They may make a person feel nervous or dizzy. Follow the package directions.
Pain Medicine:
- To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
- Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
- Use as needed.
- Try saline first. Sometimes it alone relieves the pain.
Cold Pack for Pain:
- For pain or swelling, use a cold pack. You can also use ice wrapped in a wet cloth.
- Put it over the sinus for 20 minutes.
- Caution: Avoid frostbite.
Allergy Medicine:
- If the child also has nasal allergies, give an allergy medicine.
- Long-acting allergy medicines (such as Zyrtec) are best. Reason: these meds do not cause your child to act sleepy. Age limit: 2 and older.
- A single dose of Benadryl can be given for any breakthrough symptoms.
- No prescription is needed. Age limit: 1 and older.
What to Expect:
- With this advice, the viral sinus blockage goes away in 7 to 14 days.
- The main problem is a sinus infection from bacteria. This can occur if bacteria multiply within the blocked sinus. This leads to a fever and increased pain. It needs antibiotics. Once on treatment, the symptoms will improve in a few days.
Return to School:
- Sinus infections cannot be spread to others.
- Your child can return to school after the fever is gone. Your child should feel well enough to join in normal activities.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Sinus pain lasts more than 24 hours after starting treatment
- Sinus congestion lasts more than 2 weeks
- Fever lasts more than 3 days
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.