Question: My teenage daughter (15) has been challenged with recurrent colds since she was at least 3 years old. At this time she still gets 6-8 colds a year, very heavy, sometimes turning into a sinus infection. Enlarged adenoids were removed in 2012 with no improvement. No OTC meds (pain or cold) have any impact, even prescription strength pain meds offer no relief. Excessive absences from school – feels too ill to go. Very heavy mucous production. CT scan in 2011 shows focus of mucosal thickening in the right maxillary sinus. Undulation of the nasal septum. No one has suggested chronic sinusitis. Are there cases of chronic sinusitis in teenagers? Our school is looking for a medical condition for the cause of her recurrent colds and seemingly continuos sinus infection. I’m looking to improve my daughter’s health.
Answer: Thank you for your question. One would not expect a healthy 15 year old to still get 6-8 colds a year. Chronic sinusitis in teenagers is rare. While upper respiratory tract infections are quite common in children, they tend to get less frequent as they enter the teen years. If she has continous sinus infections, I would suggest looking into other factors that could be causing these .
Among the possibilities (not all mutually exclusive) are: sinus infections or a chronic low grade infection with exacerbations, allergies, or least likely a partial weakness in her immune system.
Sinusitis can certainly cause her recurrent infections. Her CT scan sounds like it showed a sinus infection. The most common cause of recurrent sinus infections in children is chronic infections in the adenoids- and this seems like it was addressed. Sometimes, though, adenoids can regrow and get re-infected. I would ask your pediatrician to have her get an ENT evaluation.
She could also have allergies- either causing what seems like recurrent colds- or as a factor causing recurrent sinusitis.
Less likely is a selective immune deficiency. Some children may have a weakness in their ability to fight off colds because they have a diminished antibody response to certain viruses. This is not in any way related to AIDs- but can cause a child to have an increased number of these URIs.
If you are in the NY area- we would be happy to see your daughter here at the NY Sinus Center…
I hope this helps clears things up
Robert Pincus MD
Co-Director NY Sinus Center
Frequently Asked Questions
Chronic sinusitis in teenagers is quite rare, but it can occur especially if recurrent sinus infections are present. Persistent symptoms such as heavy mucus production and frequent infections warrant further investigation by an ENT specialist.
Recurrent colds and sinus infections in teenagers can be caused by factors such as chronic low-grade infections, allergies, or less commonly, partial immune system weaknesses. Enlarged or regrown adenoids can also contribute to persistent sinus issues.
Allergies can cause inflammation and blockage in the nasal passages, leading to symptoms that mimic recurrent colds and can also predispose a teenager to frequent sinus infections by impairing normal sinus drainage.
Mucosal thickening observed in a sinus CT scan indicates inflammation or infection of the sinus lining, which supports the diagnosis of sinusitis and helps guide treatment options for recurrent sinus issues.
Yes, sometimes adenoids can regrow after removal and become infected again, contributing to chronic sinus infections. This possibility should be evaluated during a specialist consultation if symptoms persist despite adenoidectomy.
In some cases, OTC and prescription pain medications may not effectively relieve symptoms if the underlying cause is a persistent or chronic sinus infection. Addressing the root cause with medical evaluation is necessary when pain relief is insufficient.
A selective immune deficiency, meaning a weakened antibody response to certain viruses, can make teenagers more susceptible to frequent upper respiratory infections including sinus infections. This condition is not related to AIDS but requires evaluation by an immunologist.
