[Sinusitis in the child from the ENT specialty point of view]

In the child, acute sinusitis generally accompanies infections of the upper airways, so that, as a rule, treatment of the infection also deals with the sinusitis at the same time. Against this background, clinical diagnosis is adequate, and further diagnostic measures--in particular x-ray examinations, are superfluous. Only if the child feels really ill, or if inflammation spreads to the orbits is a diagnostic x-ray required. Bacterial superinfection, in particular with orbital involvement, necessitates massive antibiotic treatment and, where appropriate, the exclusion of an abscess and/or intracranial complications. In clinically healthy children, radiopacities can often be seen on the x-ray of the paranasal sinuses, in which case, we are dealing with an occult sinusitis. In general, this clears up spontaneously, and only rarely needs treating. Polypous sinusitis in childhood is rare and requires surgical therapy.