When my four-year-old gets a cold, it always lingers for more than a week. She often complains of having a headache; she also has bad breath and her nose is blocked. As my other children seem to get over colds much quicker, I am wondering what could be wrong with her and whether there is anything I can do about it.
Conventional remedy
When a child has a cold that seems to linger longer than usual, or if they complain of a headache along with the cold, they could be suffering from sinusitis. The sinuses are air-filled cavities in the facial bones. These hollows are lined with a mucous membrane that can become inflamed and infected.
A common condition, it is seen in about 10 per cent of children with colds or flu. It is particularly common under the age of 12, as the sinuses are not fully developed until the teenage years. An acute episode typically lasts between seven and 10 days.
The condition is most commonly caused by a bacterium that becomes trapped in the sinus passages, which then become swollen and blocked with fluid. The common cold is the primary cause of blocked sinuses in children, but other causes, such as allergies, nasal injury or growths, chronic respiratory illnesses or water inhaled during swimming, can also be to blame.
Children with sinusitis often have chronically runny noses and may have headaches, nasal congestion and bad breath, as you describe. They may also have a cough or even a fever.
As this appears to be a recurrent problem, I would advise you to bring your daughter to your family doctor, who will be able to examine her and may be able to detect inflammation or the presence of discharge associated with the condition.
Treatment for straightforward cases would include the use of an infant suspension containing paracetamol, to reduce fever and pain. Steaming with or without the use of Olbas Oil will help to reduce inflammation and relieve nasal congestion.
A decongestant will clear the sinuses by reducing nasal-passage swelling, and your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic, to treat the bacterial infection, in which case you should see an improvement in acute symptoms within a few days.
For chronic sinusitis that does not respond to antibiotics, a referral to an ear, nose and throat specialist may be appropriate. A surgical procedure that enlarges the sinus openings may be recommended. This will ensure better drainage from the sinuses and, with luck, prevent a recurrence of the condition.
Dr Muiris Houston
Alternative remedy
Many homeopathic remedies have a use in the treatment of the recurring common cold. What is different for your child is, initially, the nature of her symptoms, and then the fact that she is not bouncing back as rapidly as her siblings.
A good homeopathic practitioner would select a remedy following observation of both her symptoms and her constitution, and would in this way address not only the symptoms and discomfort of the cold, but also the underlying reason why it appears to take her that little bit longer to recover.
So, based on the symptoms, I suggest one of the following remedies. Remember, the following list is not complete, nor is it prescriptive, but with the additional information supplied it may help you and your daughter find some relief.
Merc sol would appear to be the most appropriate homeopathic remedy. This is best in cases where the nasal discharge ranges from green to yellow, tends to burn the skin around the nose and top of the lips and is sometimes blood-streaked. Also, there tends to be increased salivation (you may notice that she is dribbling) and loss of smell, so you could ask her about this. A child needing this remedy is usually lively and mischievous.
Lycopodium is another possibility. With this remedy, you would notice that her nose is blocked, so she may sleep with her mouth open or otherwise have difficulty breathing. The discharge is most likely to be yellow. She may appear anxious and restless, and want company. Finally, she may be happier tucked up in bed or out in the fresh air.
The remedy calc-carb is also associated with loss of smell in cases of common cold, and the discharge is yellow but thick and bland. If this is the remedy, your child will not be her usual placid self, but perhaps more obstinate and feeling a little chilly. Upon careful analysis, you should obtain the chosen remedy in the 30c potency and give your daughter a single tablet at 12-hourly intervals, to a maximum of four tablets.
As you can see from even this very short list, however, a homeopathic remedy is selected on a variety of indications, and none of the above may seem right to you. With recurring complaints of this type, I would strongly recommend a visit to your family homoeopath. Failing that, reference to a good homeopathic self-help book, to alleviate symptoms, should help you to help your daughter in the short term.
Karen Doherty, homeopath
The Irish Society of Homeopaths is at 091-565040