Sinus and Nasal Conditions in Children

View Sinus and Nasal Disorders in Adults

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When your child’s symptoms move beyond the congestion and sniffles of a common cold to more serious nasal and sinus infections or other concerns, our team of experts are ready to help. Duke Children’s pediatric ear, nose, and throat specialists diagnose the cause of your child’s symptoms and provide appropriate treatment. Our goal is to help your child feel better.

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Causes of Nasal and Sinus Problems

A chronic cough, facial pain, loud breathing, loss of sense of smell, and discolored mucus can all be signs that your child has a nasal or sinus condition. If these or other common cold-like symptoms last for more than 14 days, a visit to a pediatric ENT -- a doctor who specializes in the ear, nose, and throat -- is recommended.

It may be that allergies or sinusitis, an infection of the sinuses, is to blame. Or your child may have a blockage in their nasal passage that is causing a buildup of fluid and pressure. This blockage may due to:

Enlarged Adenoids
Located in the very back of the nose and often called the third tonsil.

Nasal Polyps
Soft growths that develop on the lining of the nasal or sinus passages.

Deviated Septum
Occurs when the wall that separates the nostrils is crooked.

Nasal or Sinus Tumor
These are very rare.

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Duke Health offers locations throughout the Triangle. Find one near you.

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Treatment

Medication

Depending on the condition, your child may be treated with medicines, like antibiotics for infection, antihistamines for allergies, or steroid medications for inflammation.

Surgery

If a blockage or mass is found, surgically removing the mass or correcting the obstruction may be recommended. In most cases, these procedures can be done using an endoscope, which is much less invasive than traditional surgery.

Complex Medical Care

In the rare instance that your child is diagnosed with a nasal or sinus tumor or there is another complex medical concern such as cystic fibrosis, we will coordinate your child’s care with other specialists to ensure they receive comprehensive, thorough treatment.

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Tests

Duke pediatric ENT doctors -- also called pediatric otolaryngologists -- use advanced testing techniques to discover the cause of your child’s symptoms. In addition to physical exams, these may include:

Imaging Tests

Ultrasound, X-ray, CT, and MRI scans check for fluid, inflammation, obstructions, or masses in the nasal and sinus cavities.

Nasal Endoscopy

An endoscope -- a thin, flexible, lighted tube with a camera on the end -- is inserted through your child’s nose, allowing doctors to see inside your child’s nasal passages.

Biopsy

If a tumor is suspected, your doctor may perform a biopsy. A sample of tissue is removed using an endoscope or during surgery. The tissue is studied under a microscope to see whether cancer is present.

Consistently Ranked Among the Nation's Best Children's Hospitals

Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center is proud to be nationally ranked in 9 pediatric specialties.

This page was medically reviewed on 10/09/2024 by

Eileen M. Raynor, MD | Head and Neck Surgeon