Ever pick
your child up from day care or a church nursery and see other
children with “green gook” running out of their
noses? This isn’t simply a runny nose. It’s a
good indication of a sinus infection.
Children can suffer from sinus infections from very young
ages, just as many develop ear infections soon after birth
(two-thirds of sinusitis cases caused by bacteria are due
to germs that may also cause middle ear infections
- “otitis media” - in children). Although tiny,
two sets of sinuses are present from birth; the ethmoid, which
are between the eyes, and the maxillary, located behind the
cheeks.
Many of the same symptoms will appear in children as listed
on our sinus home page:
Yellow to green, thicker than normal drainage
post-nasal drip with cough, sore throat, bad breath, maybe
nausea or vomiting
pounding headache, which may be difficult for very young
children to express
extreme tiredness or irritability
puffy eyes
In addition
in children:
a cold for more than a week
low fever - usually with hot, dry skin but can be sweaty
These symptoms
can be mistaken for respiratory infections and it must be
determined whether it is bacterial or viral in nature to avoid
wrong or ineffective medication.
A “traditional” physician will undoubtedly prescribe
an antibiotic for any or all infections, but in this case
it could lead to other complications. Plus, the reason for
the infection may not be diagnosed.
Reasons
for Sinus and Ear Infections in Children
The yeast buildup that can come from antibiotics, because
it does not allow the “cilia” (tiny hairs lining
the sinuses) to perform their function, can cause respiratory
infections like asthma and bronchitis, to which children are
particularly susceptible.
The reason could be dairy! Most baby formulas are
milk- based and contain lactose, a common allergen. Milk makes
the mucus thick, and thick mucus is more likely to trap mold,
fungus and bacteria, in turn becoming a yeast-like substance
in the nasal passages and ear canals of very young children.
The traditional solution is antibiotics. The child then goes
into a vicious cycle of need for antibiotics because it just
encourages more yeast! Ear tubes could possibly be avoided
if the child is switched from lactose-based formula to something
else like vitamin-fortified rice milk or a straight colostrum
formula which closely resembles mother’s milk and replaces
milk nutrients for children and even adults.
