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The Natural Treatment of Sinus Conditions

by Lauren Feder, M.D. (from her upcoming book, Natural Baby and Childcare)

Just like adults, children can suffer from sinus infections, although symptoms in children are not as painfully obvious. Sinuses are air-filled cavities in the bones of the face, located behind the cheeks (maxillary sinus), between the eyes (ethmoid sinus), and behind the forehead (frontal sinus). The sinuses connect with passages to the nose and are fully developed by twenty years old. The small size of sinuses coupled with a young child's immature immune system can make a child susceptible to sinus infections, most often viral in cause. Sinus infections are precipitated by a variety of triggers, such as a cold, allergy, or exposure to smoke. In general, any environment or condition that weakens a child immune system can make him or her vulnerable to sinus infections. These triggers lead to swelling and inflammation of the sinuses and eventual infection of the sinuses. When infected, the sinuses fill with mucus or pus and can become blocked.

Symptoms of sinus infection in children involve a long-lasting cold (up to two weeks), low-grade fever, fatigue, fussiness, nasal congestion, cough, mouth breathing due to stuffed nose, drainage of yellow-green mucus, and post-nasal drip. Additional symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, sore throat, swelling around the eyes, malaise, and bad breath. A cough that worsens while lying down for a nap or at night is probably due to mucus drainage from the sinus and nose irritating the throat. Older children and adolescents will also tend to experience the more familiar adult-like sinus symptoms of pain in the face and headache.

Standard Treatment of Sinus Infections
The common cold, which is caused by a virus, also causes inflammation of the sinuses. When the symptoms of congestion and cough (worse at nap and at bedtime) last up to two weeks, the conventional doctor considers it a bacterial sinus infection and may prescribe antibiotics. In addition, she may give your child decongestants, including nasal sprays and saline nasal rinses. Chronic sinusitis includes prolonged symptoms that last for more than three months or recurrent bouts of acute sinusitis (4-6 a year). Sometimes the ear, nose, and throat specialist may recommend surgery to correct chronic sinus blockage, which can include removing the adenoids in the back of the nose.

General Home Treatment of Sinus Infections
Nasal rinses, known as nasal lavage or irrigation, have been shown to be helpful in clearing and thinning secretions for children with sinus infections, as well as any condition with congestion, such as the common cold and hay fever. The saltwater solution is sprayed into each nostril either by using a bulb syringe or a neti pot. The neti pot, used in India for centuries, has a spout for the nose. The salt to water ratio is 1 level teaspoon sea salt to 2 cups (1/2 liter) of lukewarm filtered water. Use once or twice a day as needed. Steam inhalation with chamomile is also useful for treating sinus infections.

Many parents prefer to begin treatment with natural remedies before resorting to antibiotics. The following are some commonly used homeopathic remedies for sinusitis. If the condition persists, see your practitioner.

Hepar sulph
is useful for sinus conditions with extreme tenderness of the nostrils and thick nasal discharge that smells like old cheese. The child is worse in the cold, and the nose stops up when in the cold. She feels better with warmth, moist heat, and in damp weather. There can also be a post-nasal drip. The mood is irritable and sensitive.

Kali bichromicum
is the most commonly used remedy for sinus infections. The child experiences pain and pressure at the root of the nose, which is alternately stuffed and runny. The mucus is thick and stringy, like glue, and sneezing is common in the morning. Kali bichromicumn can also be used for a stuffed nose in infants. The child is worse in the cold, the damp, and in open air, but feels better with motion, heat, and pressure.

Mercurius vivus (aka Mercurius solubilis)
treats the sinus infections where the child's nose looks red, raw, and dirty. He may be sneezing frequently with a yellow-green, thick, pus-like discharge. The child has bad breath with excessive drooling and can also be sweaty. He feels worse in the extreme heat and cold temperatures.

Nux vomica
treats symptoms of sinusitis where sneezing and runny nose are frequent by day. During the night, the nose is stopped up, and it is not uncommon for a child to wake up with complaints around 3-4 a.m. The keynotes of Nux vomica also include an angry and impatient child.

Pulsatilla
is recommended for sinus infections with a bland, yellow-green discharge. The nose is stuffed and aggravated by lying down, and the child feels better in the open air. She is worse in a warm, stuffy room and after eating rich foods. The mood is weepy and clingy.

Gemmotherapy
Briar Rose and European Hornbeam along with Manganese-Copper are helpful in treating sinusitis.

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