Sinus congestion―also known as nasal congestion, nasal blockage, sinus or nasal obstruction, and stuffy nose―is a very common health issue, especially in winters. Most of us consider it to be an illness which usually recovers on its own in due course of time. However, the condition may turn out to be chronic if proper attention isn't given in the initial stages. Sinus congestion, like we all know, is when your nose feels stuffed and heavy. However, not all its cases are caused due to stuffed mucus. Many a time, the blood vessels in the sinus tissues also swell due to certain allergies including mold, dust, pollen, smoke, etc. Certain health conditions such as cold and flu, influenza, etc., can also trigger this infection. In children who are older, this condition can be handled with comparative ease as compared to infants or toddlers. In case of infants, one needs to be very cautious as they may develop additional health issues such as breathing problems. Causes Children are more prone to sinus congestion considering the fact that they don't understand what is good or bad for them. I mean, they will explore the playground and will not bother to care about the dust around. They will play with the mud and use the same hands to eat snacks..., in short, children can easily develop allergies that can cause this infection. The following are some of the causal factors of this infection.

• Allergic reaction
• Infection in the sinus
• Hay fever
• Medication allergy
• Common cold and flu
• Nasal polyps
• Measles
• Rubella
• Cluster headaches
• Environmental irritants
• Sinus injury
• Bronchiolitis
• Whooping cough
• Swine flu
• Cystic fibrosis
• Viral infection
• Entrance of a foreign body in the nasal passages
• Low temperature
• Chickenpox
• Acute sinusitis
• Chronic sinusitis
• Dry air
• Food allergy
• Allergy due to dust mite
• Wheat allergy
• Thyroid imbalance
• Soy allergy
• Respiratory syncytial virus
• Pet allergy
• Consumption of spicy food
• Deviated septum
• DiGeorge syndrome
• If the child frequently plays or hangs in an upside-down position, the blood flows upwards which can cause inflammation in the nasal passage leading to congestion

Remedies and Treatment As you might have gauged, the causes can vary from a simple dust allergy to a severe health condition such as chickenpox or measles. Therefore, the treatment would depend upon the cause, which can be diagnosed only through proper tests and checkup. If your child is suffering from severe congestion for the past few days, then you must consult a health care specialist and get him checked for the possible causes, in order to start a relevant treatment. You can go through the following remedies for some temporary relief until you visit a doctor.

• Using a humidifier would help if dry air is the cause of nasal congestion.
• Make your child drink plenty of water. Also serve your child warm and fresh vegetable broths and soup.
• Ask your child to blow his nose within frequent intervals.
• Using a nasal saline spray may also prove to be of help.
• Rinsing the nasal passage with salty water also helps in getting some relief from the blockage. However, this remedy needs to be done with care as it may cause further irritation.
• Applying petroleum jelly on the nostrils helps in refraining the skin from becoming dry and scaly.
• It would also be a good idea to place a vaporizer or a nebulizer in the child's bedroom before sleeping in the night.

For accurate treatment and diagnosis, it is best to get in touch with a health care specialist as soon as possible. Take special caution in case of infants, as they may develop some serious complications. Take care. Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is meant for informational purposes only and should not be considered as a replacement for expert medical advice.