Regarding Acute Sinusitis In Children

In treating acute sinusitis in children, which of the following sinuses is unlikely to be infected in a 6-year-old?
A) Frontal
B) Maxillary
C) Ethmoidal
D) Sphenoidal

Answer and Discussion

The answer is A. Frontal sinus is unlikely to be infected in a 6 year old child

Acute bacterial infection of the sinuses that lasts <30 days and completely resolves is called acute bacterial sinusitis. The maxillary and ethmoidal sinuses most commonly involved when mucociliary
function and drainage are impaired by an upper respiratory infection (URI) or allergic rhinitis. Both the ethmoid and maxillary sinuses are present at
birth, forming in the third to fourth gestational month. The sphenoid sinuses pneumatize as an extension of a posterior ethmoid cell by age 5 years, and the frontal sinuses form from an anterior ethmoid cell appearing at about age 7 to 8 years.
Frontal sinusitis is unusual before age 10 years.