Sinuses

Jokes

1) Why do some people get all the breaks?
click for answer

2) What can you give away and still keep?
click for answer

3) What do you say to a sick dairy farmer?
click for answer

What's That Smell? The Nose Knows - did you know... that your nose helps you smell and taste?!

Visit the Kids Health site.
Here you'll find movies about muscles or the immune system.
and many more kid friendly, health related things.

What Are They?

Your sinuses (sy-nuhs-is) are, well, holes in your head and they begin developing right after you’re born and grow until you’re about 20 years old! You have eight sinus chambers and they are located in both cheeks, behind and between your eyes, and behind your nose. There are tiny hairs in your sinuses that move back and forth pushing mucus into your nose, which traps germs.

What Do Sinuses Do?

Sinuses have a few jobs, but one very important job is to … lighten your head! That’s right! Between that thick skull and all those brains, you'd have a heavy head without sinuses. In the event of an accident, sinus bones will break before your skull, greatly reducing the risk of sharp bone fragments getting lodged in your brain.

Things That Can Happen to Your Sinuses

How can sinuses get infected? Imagine a germ as it tickles a delicate spot in the sinuses. Suddenly the nasal passages close, mucus collects, and at a rapid rate germs come in by the tons - and presto chango … you have an irritation. What is an infection called? It’s called sinusitis, and you may have it if you have a cold that lasts more than 10-14 days and a low-grade fever.

Types of Sinusitis

There are 3 types of sinusitis; they and their symptoms are listed below.

Acute sinusitis:
1. Cold that lasts more than 10-14 days
2. Yellow or green mucus (though this may not mean you have sinusitis)
3. Pain over 1 infected sinus or cheek
4. Pain gets worse when you bend over
5. Bad breath

Sub-acute sinusitis:
1. Symptoms of acute sinusitis for over 1 month

Chronic sinusitis:
1. Symptoms of acute sinusitis for over 4 months
2. Both sides of nose are stuffy
3. Frequent headaches
4. Daytime coughs
5. Upset stomach or vomiting from swallowing any or all infected mucus.

Importantly, sinusitis can be caused by bacteria, whereas colds cannot. Bacteria need to be treated with antibiotics. Normally the doctor will examine your ears and throat, look in your nose, check spots on your face for soreness, and will prescribe medicine as needed.

Credits

Web Sites

The Nemours Foundation. "KidsHealth for Kids" 1995-2004. <http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/> (January-February, 2004).

Images

Images of nose and person with headache from "Microsoft Office Online" <http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?cag=1> Images free for non-profit and personal use. (October-February, 2003-2004).

Book

Bernstein, Joanne E. and Paul Cohen. Dizzy Doctor Riddles. Niles, Illinois: Albert Whitman & Company. 1989.

Joke Answers

1) They're clumsy. Return
2) A cold. Return
3) Feel butter Return