There’s no shortage of contagious viruses making people cough, sneeze, or ache right now due to the RSV, flu, and COVID-19. If you have a stuffy nose, you might wonder if it’s a cold or a sinus infection. Pediatric hospitals across the country are experiencing an influx of sick pediatric patients due to the recent surge in respiratory illness in the U.S.
Dr. Steven Goudy, division chief of otolaryngology, said, “We went two years without people getting sick, and now there is this huge tsunami of illness.” There are more than 200 viruses that cause colds, including rhinoviruses, enteroviruses, adenoviruses, influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and more.
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Sinus Infections: What Are They?
Goudy says that sinuses enable you to lift your head and look around because they occupy these pockets within the bone. Goudy says the sinuses are hollow and air-filled, like “little rooms” in the skull. Nose mucus drains out of the sinuses. Cilia line the sinuses, Goudy explains, which help pass mucus out of the sinuses and the airway so it can drain through the nose.
Symptoms Of Cold And Sinus Infection?
The first signs of a sinus infection are typically viral (RSV or rhinovirus, for instance), which can cause sneezing, coughing, congestion, and fever. Viruses cause inflammation and mucus buildup, which can become infective and lead to sinus infections. Infections of the sinuses usually cause congestion, facial pain, and pressure. Goudy said, “The pain and pressure are caused by the sinuses filling up with pus, almost like a pimple.”
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Complications Of Sinus Infections
Goudy says the infection spreads into the tissues around the eye, swells, and pushes your eye out, which can result in vision loss. Goudy says chemosis is irritated and swollen white parts of the eye in addition to swelling, redness, and irritation.
Goudy says sinus infections are generally treated with antibiotics such as amoxicillin, but some require surgery to drain the infection. Goudy recommends monitoring children closely for any changes or progression in symptoms of sinus infections. Keeping in touch with your child’s pediatrician when they are sick is crucial to getting early treatment.