Best Pediatric Sinus Doctor in Dubai – Dr. Muhammad Jabbr

Your child has had a runny nose for two weeks. The cough is worse at night, and they look tired every morning. Is it just another cold, or is it a sinus infection? If you are looking for a pediatric sinus doctor in Dubai, this guide will help you tell the two apart.

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is a Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa. He treats adults and children and has more than 20 years of experience. For a child whose sinus trouble keeps coming back, he is among the best ENT specialists to see in Dubai.

Below, you will learn how to spot a sinus infection, how it is treated and which signs need urgent help.

Do children really get sinus infections?

Yes. Sinuses are small air spaces in the bones of the face, lined like the inside of the nose. When that lining swells, mucus cannot drain well. Germs can then grow in the trapped mucus.

A child's sinuses are still growing. The cheek sinuses and the small sinuses between the eyes are there from birth, but they are tiny. The forehead sinuses only start to form around school age and keep growing into the teens. This is why sinus problems in small children often show up as a long runny nose and cough, not as the classic face pain adults describe.

For more on the condition itself, see sinusitis in children.

Cold or sinus infection? Three patterns doctors look for

Most colds in children are caused by viruses. They often last 7 to 10 days. The nose may run clear at first, then thick and yellow or green. That colour change alone does not mean a sinus infection. It is a normal part of a cold.

Doctors usually think about a bacterial sinus infection in a child when one of these patterns appears:

• It does not get better. Nasal discharge, daytime cough, or both last more than 10 days without improving.
• It starts strong. A high fever (39°C or more) with thick nasal discharge for at least 3 days in a row at the start of the illness.
• It gets worse again. Your child seems to be recovering, then the fever, cough or discharge comes back or gets worse.

Other signs can include bad breath, a cough that is worse lying down, a blocked nose and tiredness. Older children may feel cheek pressure; younger ones may just be cranky.

What makes some children prone to repeated sinus infections?

Some children seem to get a sinus infection after every cold. Often there is a reason.

Adenoids

Adenoids are soft tissue at the back of the nose. In young children they can be large, and they can act as a store of germs. Big adenoids can also block the back of the nose, so mucus does not drain well. If your child also snores or mouth-breathes, read about enlarged adenoids in children.

Allergy

Dust mites, pets, mould and pollen can keep the nose swollen for weeks. A swollen lining drains poorly, so infections follow more easily. Treating allergic rhinitis in children may help lower the number of sinus flare-ups.

Other factors

• Nursery or school, where colds pass quickly between children.
• Cigarette or shisha smoke at home or in the car.
• Less often, an immune problem or a condition that affects mucus, such as cystic fibrosis. Your doctor may test for these if infections are frequent or severe.

How does a pediatric sinus doctor in Dubai check your child?

The visit starts with questions: how long symptoms have lasted, how often they return, and how your child sleeps and breathes.

Next comes a gentle check of the nose, ears and throat. Often this is enough. If more detail is needed, a very thin, flexible camera (nasal endoscopy) can show the back of the nose and the adenoids, if your child is comfortable with it. A numbing spray is often used first, and the look usually takes only a minute or two.

Scans are not needed for a simple sinus infection. A CT scan is usually kept for children with a suspected complication, infections that keep returning despite good treatment, or when surgery is being planned. Allergy tests may be suggested if allergy seems to play a part.

If the main problem is a stuffy nose without signs of infection, read about other causes of nose blockage in children.

How are sinus infections in children treated?

Treatment depends on how long the problem has lasted, how unwell your child is, and what is causing it. Most children get better without any procedure.

• Saline rinses or sprays. Salt water washes out thick mucus and germs. Babies can have saline drops and gentle suction.
• Nasal steroid sprays. These reduce swelling inside the nose. They may help when allergy or swollen adenoids play a part. They work slowly, are used daily, and the doctor will choose one suited to your child's age.
• Antibiotics when needed. Antibiotics can help when a bacterial infection is likely, based on the patterns above. They do not help a viral cold. If symptoms have lasted long but your child is not very unwell, the doctor may suggest waiting a few more days first. If antibiotics are given, finish the course as advised.
• Fever and pain relief. Paracetamol or ibuprofen at the right dose for your child's age and weight can make them more comfortable. Never give aspirin to a child.

Please do not give your child decongestant sprays or cough and cold medicines without medical advice. Some are not safe for young children.

Eye swelling and other warning signs in children

Serious complications are rare, but they can happen quickly in children. The eye sits right next to the sinuses, so infection can sometimes spread there. Take your child to the emergency department straight away if they have:

• Swelling or redness of the eyelid or around the eye.
• Pain when moving the eye, double vision, blurred vision, or an eye that looks pushed forward.
• A severe headache, a stiff neck, repeated vomiting, or unusual sleepiness or confusion.
• Swelling on the forehead.
• A high fever that does not settle, or a child who looks very unwell.

Our guide to ENT emergencies in children lists other signs that should not wait.

When is surgery considered for a child?

Surgery is not the first step. Most children improve with medical treatment and time, as the face grows and the immune system matures.

A procedure may be discussed when infections keep coming back or last for months despite good treatment. In younger children, removing large adenoids (adenoidectomy) is often the first option, because infected adenoids can keep passing germs to the sinuses. In some children, a sinus wash-out is done at the same time.

Endoscopic sinus surgery through the nostrils is used less often in children. It may be considered for problems such as nasal polyps, cystic fibrosis, a complication like an abscess near the eye, or chronic disease that has not responded to other care. Dr. Jabbr will explain the benefits and risks so you can decide together.

What Dr. Muhammad Jabbr offers your child

Your child will be seen by a specialist who:

• Is a Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon with MD, MS, DOHNS (England), European Board ORL-HNS and Arab Board ORL-HNS qualifications.
• Has more than 20 years of experience and more than 3,000 ENT procedures.
• Treats children and adults, so one doctor can follow your child's sinus care as they grow.
• Starts with the simplest treatment and discusses procedures only when they are likely to help.
• Holds a 4.9 Google rating from 406 reviews.

Book a visit for your child

Dr. Jabbr sees children and adults at the ENT Department, Medcare Hospital, Hadiqa Street, Al Safa 1, Dubai. To book, use the online booking page or call +971 52 751 7811.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Many long colds are not sinus infections, and most sinus infections in children settle with simple care. Watch for symptoms that last beyond 10 days, start with a high fever, or return after improving. Act fast if you see swelling around the eye. If sinus trouble keeps coming back, a careful check with Dr. Muhammad Jabbr can help find the reason and the right plan.