How does one differentiate sinusitis from a cold in a child?

Doctor's Answer

thanks for the D2D.

ENT Doctor Singapore

It is not always easy to tell the difference between a common cold and sinusitis. But from experience with my paediatric patients, these are typically the symptoms to watch out for:

  • if the cold lasts an unusually long time such as more than 10 days
  • thick yellow-green nasal mucus
  • puffy swollen eyes (see picture above)
  • headaches, especially in children older than 6 years
  • sore throat, cough or bad breath which may be due to an infected postnasal drip

Some children may become quite unwell with sinusitis and may need admission to hospital to be given an antibiotic drip.

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