Occasional sinus infections are common in children and can cause a range of symptoms, from mild discomfort to unbearable pain.
The sinuses refer to the “four sets of hollow spaces located in the cheekbones, forehead, between the eyes, and behind the eyes and nasal passages.”
If the sinus tissue cannot drain properly, mucus may become trapped in the sinus passages, leading to germ growth which can lead to sinusitis, a condition resulting from the sinuses becoming infected or irritated.
For younger children, signs of sinusitis usually include cold-like symptoms, such as a stuffy or runny nose, as well as a mild fever – a fever 5-7 days after a cold can indicate another type of infection, like bronchitis or pneumonia, so be sure to call your child’s doctor.
For older kids and teenagers, signs or symptoms of inflamed sinuses or a sinus infection can include:
- A cough that doesn’t improve after seven days of symptoms
- Worsening congestion
- Fever
- Bad breath
- Tooth or jaw pain
- Ear pain
- Tenderness in the face or around the sinuses
- Nausea, headaches, and pain behind the eyes
One easy at-home way to help keep your child’s sinus passages clear to prevent or reduce sinus infections is with a nasal saline rinse. A nasal saline rinse uses saltwater to rinse thick or dried mucus and crusts to keep the nasal passages open and healthy. Along with helping to prevent infection of the sinuses, nasal rinses also help reduce postnasal drip, keeping the mucous membranes in the nasal passage moist and the nose feeling comfortable.
Here are some tips for how to safely and comfortably flush your children’s sinuses.
How to Flush Your Children’s Sinuses
Saline nasal flushes are relatively simple. To start, you need a nasal saline solution. You can buy a nasal saline solution online or at a pharmacy. If you prefer, you can also easily make a saline solution at home by following these steps:
- Pour 1 cup of distilled water into a clean container (never use tap water, or water that you boiled and is still hot).
- Add ½ teaspoon of pickling or canning salt to the container.
- Add ½ teaspoon of baking soda to the container.
Once you have your saline solution, here is how to safely and comfortably use it to flush your child’s sinuses.
- Before starting the rinse, wash your hands well with soap and warm water for at least 30 seconds.
- Fill a medical syringe or squeeze bottle with the saline solution.
- Have your child stand over the sink. Insert the tip of the syringe in one nostril and, aiming the stream toward the back of your child’s head, gently squeeze. Do not plug the other nostril.
- After a few seconds, the solution should come out of the other nostril (or the mouth)
- Do this for both nostrils.
- Have your child gently blow their nose after each rinse.
- Fully clean the syringe or bottle after each use.
Tips and Reminders
- For younger children especially, talk to them beforehand about what you will be doing and how it will help.
- If you haven’t already, your child may benefit from starting with nasal sprays before moving on to nasal flushes. Nasal sprays can help your child get used to the feeling of the inside of their nose being wet.
- Remember that a saline rinse can cause a slight burning sensation the first few times someone uses it. This typically goes away.
Also, for children of any age, be sure to call the doctor if your child has:
- A cold that doesn’t improve (or is getting worse) after 7-10 days.
- Allergy symptoms are not clearing with typical allergy medication.
- Worsening pain or pressure in the cheeks or around the eyes.
- Swelling around the eyes.
- Fever.
Along with saline flushes, members of your family may find relief from symptoms of allergies by using ClearLife Allergy Nasal Spray Extra Strength from MediNatura.
ClearLife Allergy Nasal Spray Extra Strength – MediNatura
If you’re dealing with symptoms of seasonal allergies and want an all-natural alternative to over-the-counter allergy products, consider starting with ClearLife Allergy Nasal Spray Extra Strength from MediNatura.
ClearLife Allergy Nasal Spray provides homeopathic support for the relief of minor symptoms of seasonal allergies. Active ingredients like Allium cepa, Ambrosia artemisiaefolia, Eupharasia officinalis, Galphimia glauca, Luffa operculata, and sulphur help provide optimal support for the relief of minor allergy symptoms, including runny nose, watery eyes, and congestion.
Do you use saline rinses when you or your children are dealing with sinus infections?