"The maxillary (behind the cheek) and ethmoid (honeycomb air cells between the eyes) sinuses are present at birth. The frontal and sphenoid (in the very back of the nose) sinuses develop later. The sinuses are not fully developed until age 20.
Sinusitis is a general word that means inflammation of the sinuses.
Children can get sinus infections. Because of their immature immune system, children are more susceptible to viral upper respiratory infections; approximately 6-8 colds per year. The sinuses drain through small narrow openings into the nose. The mucosal lining has thousands of tiny hair cells called cilia which sweep the mucus through the small openings into the nose. During a viral infection, swelling and inflammation can block off the openings. Viral infections also cause the cilia to not work well. Mucus becomes trapped and can become infected by bacteria."
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