Children with nasal and sinus problems may need to see a rhinology specialist to get the right diagnosis and treatment.
Our clinic staff has expertise in both common and rare rhinology conditions in kids.
At UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, offer a range of tests and treatments — from lifestyle changes to advanced surgery. We follow your child over time to make sure their symptoms improve or go away.
Here are some common conditions we treat at the Rhinology Clinic at UPMC Children's Hospital.
Adenoid or Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy
Children with unusually large adenoids or tonsils can have:
- Sleep apnea.
- Frequent infections.
- Speech and swallowing issues.
We largely treat this condition with surgery to remove the tonsils, adenoids, or both.
Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)
Children may suffer hay fever symptoms at certain times of the year or throughout the year.
Hay fever can cause:
- Itchy and watery eyes.
- A runny nose.
- Sneezing.
We use skin testing to find out the cause of hay fever. Then, we prescribe medicated nasal sprays that target your child's exact symptoms.
Chronic and Recurrent Sinusitis
Sinusitis symptoms include:
- A stuffy nose
- Mucus in the back of the throat
- Cough.
- Headache.
- Fever.
- Loss of smell.
Children may have all or some of these symptoms.
Chronic sinusitis lasts 12 weeks or longer. Recurrent sinusitis means 3 or more episodes of sinusitis in a year.
We treat both types of sinusitis with medicines, which we tailor to your child's symptoms. In rare cases, the condition requires surgery.
Deviated Nasal Septum
The wall that divides the 2 nasal passages can get pushed to one side at birth. Injury to the nose can also cause a deviated nasal septum.
The condition can:
- Be mild or severe.
- Make it hard for your child to breathe.
- Cause nosebleeds and noisy breathing during sleep.
We may use medications, such as a nasal steroid spray, to reduce swelling. In more severe cases, we may suggest surgery.
Nosebleed (Epistaxis)
We first find the cause of your child's nosebleeds before deciding on the right treatment.
For children with frequent nosebleeds, we can often prevent them with medicated nasal sprays. In some cases, we operate to seal the blood vessels.
Congenital Nasal Airway Obstruction
Babies can be born with a range of conditions that restrict breathing through the nose.
We perform tests to learn the type of obstruction and how severe.
Then we may:
- Monitor the issue.
- Prescribe drugs to reduce swelling.
- Operate.
Types of nasal airway obstruction
Conditions that block the nasal airway include the following:
- Choanal atresia: A blockage on one or both sides of the back of the nose, due to excess bone or tissue.
- Pyriform aperture stenosis: A condition where the nasal opening is too narrow due to an overgrowth of the upper jawbone.
- Nasolacrimal duct cysts: Cysts in the tear duct.
- Congenital sinus and nasal tumors: Tumors that are present at birth.
- Nasal turbinate enlargement: Enlarged bony structures on the side of the nose.
Nasal, Nasopharyngeal, and Sinus Tumors
Both benign and cancerous tumors can grow in a child's nasal cavity, upper part of the throat, and sinuses.
We learn the type of tumor using:
- Nasal endoscopy
- Imaging
- Biopsy.
Then, we target the treatment.
Some tumors respond to medicines. In other cases, we suggest surgery.
Nonallergic Rhinitis
Children with this condition may have:
- A runny nose.
- Frequent sneezing.
- Mucus in the throat.
We first rule out hay fever with testing.
We treat non-allergenic rhinitis with nasal spray medicines that we choose based on your child's specific symptoms.
Sinonasal Polyposis
Polyps (small, abnormal tissue growths) sometimes form in a child's sinuses and nasal cavity.
We treat the condition with drugs to shrink the polyps. In some cases, we may remove them through surgery.
Make an Appointment at the Rhinology Clinic
You can have your child's doctor refer them to us. Or you can make an appointment with the Rhinology Clinic directly.
