Expert: Dr Kondekar Santosh Venketraman Pediatrician MD, Mumbai India, Online Pediatrician - 4/19/2006

Question
My 14 month old son has now completed 2 rounds of anitbiotics (amoxicillin-1st/Omnicef-2nd). He still continues to itch his nose constantly and has anywhere from clear thin to green thick discharge from his nose throughout the day when he sneezes. He has no fever,has a good appetite, and is playful. He was diagnosed with Sinusitis and Allergic Rhinitis two months ago. My question is, do children this age contract colds/infections that last 10 weeks or more? The antibiotics have helped but not totally relieved him of these symptoms. Also given the time of year (pollen season in Virginia), could he benfit from an allergy medicine instead?
Thank you for your time.

Answer
My 14 month old son has now completed 2 rounds of anitbiotics (amoxicillin-1st/Omnicef-2nd).
          =========== what was the duration? anything less than 3 days, was unindicated. if there were no fever, its more likely that these were not required.

He still continues to itch his nose constantly and has anywhere from clear thin to green thick discharge from his nose throughout the day when he sneezes.
         ============= very common with allergic rhinitis; although green thick may suggest infection.

He has no fever,has a good appetite, and is playful. He was diagnosed with Sinusitis and Allergic Rhinitis two months ago.
         ========== sinusitis little unlikely below 3 year age, but allergic rhinitis and infective rhinitis, yes ! But it still can be adenoiditis, where he would have had fever, mouth breathing and persistant running nose.

My question is, do children this age contract colds/infections that last 10 weeks or more?
         ==== yes they do, rather its the normal course of many infections, but anything more than 2 weeks should prompt evaluations to rule out adenoids. The treatment may not differ.
       ======= A single episode lasting 10 weeks is unusual, may be if u watch carefully - your child may have had many asymptomatic phases in these 10 weeks... suggesting there were more than one episodes over 10 weeks.

The antibiotics have helped but not totally relieved him of these symptoms.
       ==== keep nose clean with buds soaked in saline; dont encourage sneezing in. ask for a Xray neck soft tissue to rule out other causes including adenoids.


Also given the time of year (pollen season in Virginia), could he benfit from an allergy medicine instead?
        ====== your pediatrician would have understood best, but if the discharge is thin, episodic, without fever and many times.. it may be allergic. There are many good allopathic medicines your doctor may prescribe.


Thank you for your time