Allergies.
- A child may have allergies that is causing a stuffy or runny nose.
- Things that may make you think about allergies:
- recent introduction of new formula or milk products
- family history of allergies, asthma or eczema
- runny nose more than 2 weeks, often associated with sneezing, or itchy eyes
- runny nose is on and off
- child does not seem ill
- dark circles under the eyes, called "allergic shiners" or a crease on the nose from rubbing an itchy nose
- If you have concerns about allergies, contact your doctor during office hours.
Complications of a cold.
- Ear infections, sinusitis and pneumonia may be complications of a cold.
- All green noses do not mean infections which need antibiotics.
Sinusitis
- A bacterial infection of the sinuses (small spaces in the bones of the face).
- Symptoms may include: clear, green or yellow congestion for two or more weeks and nighttime or morning cough from a postnasal drip.
- Sometimes, they have a fever, foul breath, fussiness and headaches.
- One way to diagnose this is by obtaining a sinus x-ray.
- Infants under one year of age do not have well-developed sinuses and are not as prone to getting sinusitis.
- Treatment involves antibiotics and topical nasal steroid sprays.
