They begin to grow when a child is older and complete development as a child becomes a young adult. Sinusitis means inflammation or infection of the sinuses. These disorders cause membrane swelling within the sinuses, inhibit flow of mucus out of the sinuses, and weaken the sinuses' defenses. Your child may have symptoms similar to a bad cold, but may also develop fever, headache, tooth pain, and a pus-like drainage from the nose. With proper treatment, i.e., antibiotics, most acute sinus infections resolve.
Chronic sinusitis is also a fairly common disorder in childhood.
In this case, symptoms may be more subtle but prolonged- like a cold that just won't go away. Frequently, these children have a stuffy nose, chronic drainage from the nose or down the throat, bad breath, and often a persistent cough. Chronic sinusitis may require prolonged medical therapy. In rare cases of medical failure, procedures to drain the sinuses may be required. The diagnosis of childhood sinusitis is difficult.