How to Help Your Child with a Sinus Infection
Sinus infections are widespread among adults and kids, but it's certainly hard to watch your child struggle with one. When kids experience a blocked nose, they get upset and become irritated, so it's hard to watch your child go through this sickness.
Many parents think the first port of call is their doctor for some antibiotics. However, we suggest trying natural ways of relieving your child of this horrible sickness before going to the doctor.
The truth is that antibiotics are not as effective for sinus infections as people think. Most of the time, sinus is caused by a virus, in which case antibiotics are not helpful. This is the most common reason why doctors don't prescribe them to kids with sinus infections. Believe it or not, it can be more effective to give it some time and see if the condition improves and eventually goes away. If you can avoid giving your child antibiotics, it's all worth it!
Here are some ideas to make your child comfortable during their sinus infection:
Steam
Steam can help loosen up the sinus passageways and get the mucus out. You can get your child into a hot shower and sit them next to the hot water, but not under it. Make sure they don't touch the water and burn themselves. Another way is to peel and boil some potatoes, drain the water once done, and then sit the child in front of the saucepan with their face over the steam (be careful not to be too close and burn the skin).
Essential oils
Several essential oils serve as natural decongestants, like eucalyptus. Place a few drops of this oil on a cotton ball and let your child breathe it in. For relaxation, you can add other essential oils into the mix, such as lavender.
Nasal wash
This is a great way to move mucus in nasal passages and wash them out. Nasal wash kits can be bought from a pharmacy and come with a bottle and sachets. Typically it's something similar to salt, which is an antibacterial treatment.
Child-friendly nose drops
This is a very popular treatment for many parents. For younger kids, choose saline drops; older kids can get different drops to clear their noses. Check with your pharmacist for the most suitable option.
Immunity-boosting vitamins
We suggest giving your kids vitamins to support their growth and development throughout the year; however, adding immunity-boosting vitamins in colder seasons or when your child becomes sick, as it can happen all year round.
Start giving your child ChildLife First Defense, Vitamin C and Echinacea, which can help reduce the sickness length and provide faster recovery.
Diet and eating habits
If you notice that your child gets sick regularly, consider what they eat and their lifestyle. A varied diet of fruit and vegetables is the key to supporting your child's early development and growth. However, if your child is a picky eater or on a special diet, we suggest including Childlife Essentials Multi-Vitamin to bridge the nutritional gap.
Hydration
Water and enough of it is essential every day. However, it's more critical when you're sick. Hydration is the key to recovery, so ensure your child gets enough fluids when recovering from a sinus infection. Give them an additional drink like honey + lemon + ginger tea for a further immunity boost.
See your doctor if nothing helps
If you've tried all the home remedies and it's been more than ten days, or you've seen no improvement, we suggest seeing your doctor. You should talk to your doctor immediately if your child's sinus infection is accompanied by fever or other symptoms.