Q: Sinus infections in children are characterized by persistent cold-like symptoms. Sinusitis can be caused by a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection.  Cold-like symptoms of sinus infections include persistent sneezing, coughing, and congestion that lasts for two weeks or more. In addition, your toddler may have green nasal discharge and sore throat.  Your child may also complain of facial pain or headache that is linked to congestion and present with puffy eyes.  Sinus infections often cause fevers in young children of 102°F (39°C) or higher.  Chronic sinus infections consist of symptoms that last three months or longer with several episodes within a year. You can use over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications to help manage your child’s facial pain, headache, and fever associated with sinus infection.  Make sure that you are only giving your toddler the dose that is appropriate for her age and weight. Check with a nurse or your toddler’s pediatrician if you are not sure what kind of dose to give to your child. A fever that is under 101°F (38°C) in a toddler is considered low-grade and can be treated with medication. Keep your eye on your child if her fever is between 101°F (38°C) and 103°F (39.4°C); if it does not go down after a few hours of treating your child with OTC medication or lasts longer than three days, call your pediatrician.  A fever that is 104°F (40°C) or higher and does not come down within a couple of hours after giving your toddler medication requires immediate medical attention.  OTC medications that can be used to treat your child’s fever include ibuprofen (e.g., Advil) for children six months and older and acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) for infants two months and older. Do not treat your toddler’s fever with aspirin. Aspirin should not be given to children under the age of 18 because it can cause a rare but potentially fatal disease called Reye's syndrome. Keeping your toddler hydrated helps to alleviate many of his sinus infection symptoms, including congestion, vomiting, and fever. There are a variety of ways to keep your child hydrated.  Give your child cool beverages to stay hydrated. Pedialyte and Gatorade may be extra helpful by providing a boost of electrolytes. If your child has a sore throat, a popsicle may help to ease the pain while also providing fluids.  Older toddlers may also be served warm or cold caffeine-free herbal tea with honey to ease a sore throat.  Please note that honey should not be given to a child under one year of age due to the risk of botulism.  You can also give your sick toddler chicken soup, which is a good source of fluids and nutrients. Giving your toddler a bath allows can help relieve some of the symptoms of sinusitis. The steam from a warm bath can help ease congestion and loosen mucus.  Taking a lukewarm bath may also help to reduce your toddler’s fever. Make sure that the water is not hotter than 90°F (32.3°C) or too cold.  Your toddler may also benefit from having a warm, moist towel over her face to help reduce facial pain and open up the sinuses. Much of your child’s discomfort comes from his packed sinuses and nasal passages. You can help release mucus by using saline nose drops and suction.  Use salt water nose drops to help thin mucus in your child’s sinuses. Put drops into his nostrils according to the directions on the packaging.  Use a bulb syringe to suction off the mucus. Extra moisture in the air helps to thin the mucus in your child’s sinuses and nasal passages. Running a cool mist humidifier overnight can help relieve pressure and ensure a better sleep. Make sure you keep the humidifier clean and dry to keep mold and bacteria from spreading through the air. As with any illness, your child needs plenty of rest in order to fight off a sinus infection. Make sure that your child has a comfortable place to sleep and that he rests during the day.  If your child is restless, give him quiet entertainment such as an interactive video or low-energy toys to play with.  Keep your child out of daycare so that he does not spread the infection. Avoid giving your toddler OTC decongestants and antihistamine medications if she is under the age of four. Generally, these medications are not effective at treating sinus infections in young toddlers and are easy to overdose.  OTC decongestants and antihistamine medications, such as Claritin and Benadryl, are not effective at treating upper respiratory infections, especially those caused by bacteria.  Talk to your doctor before giving any OTC medication to give your child. Your child's doctor can advise on allergy medications if your child has allergies along with a sinus infection.
A: Recognize the symptoms of a sinus infection. Give your toddler acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help relieve pain and fever. Keep your child well hydrated. Give your toddler a bath. Use saline nose drops. Run a cool mist humidifier in your child's room. Ensure your child gets plenty of rest. Do not use over-the-counter decongestants and antihistamines.

Q: -free shampoo. Rather than shampooing your hair daily, skip a day or 2 in between your washes. This allows your natural oils to hydrate and repair your hair. Shampoo strips your hair of these natural oils. Rub a quarter-sized amount of shampoo between both of your hands, and massage the shampoo over your scalp and hair.  If your scalp gets itchy or oily, you should wash your hair. Look for a shampoo formulated with ingredients like vitamins E and B5, iron, copper, and zinc. They increase keratin production. Keratin is the protein structural content of your hair, and providing your hair with these nutrients helps ensure it grows long, thick, and healthy. your hair daily, even on days you don’t shampoo it. Hop in the shower, wet your hair, and apply a generous amount of conditioner. Be sure to cover your roots and your ends, and massage the conditioner into your scalp. Let the conditioner sit for 1-3 minutes. Your hair is less likely to dry out and have split ends if you keep it moisturized and healthy.  Look for conditioners rich in ingredients like coconut oil, argan oil, shea butter, and panthenol (vitamin B5). While you don’t need to shampoo your hair every day, conditioning it daily helps keep it hydrated and healthy, which promotes hair growth. Conditioner replaces the lipids and proteins inside the hair shaft, which makes your hair healthier. The healthier your hair is, the faster it will grow. Warm water is harsh on your skin and hair. When you are finished washing your hair, turn your water temperature down. Rinse your hair thoroughly in cool water seals the cuticle of your hair, which strengthens the follicle before you style your hair. Be sure to wash out all shampoo and conditioner. Scoop a generous amount of conditioner into your hands, and apply it after you wash your hair. Concentrate the majority of the product toward the tips of your hair, since this area is typically the driest and most brittle. Leave the conditioner on your hair for 15-45 minutes, and then rinse the conditioner out completely. For best results, wrap your hair in a plastic shower cap as you wait.  To boost your results, you could sit under a hairdryer with a shower cap on. This helps the conditioning treatment penetrate even further into your hair. Deep conditioning treatments hydrate your hair, which encourages healthy hair growth and prevents split ends. with essential oils 1-2 times a week. Drip a nickel-size amount of oil to your fingers, and rub your hands together. Then, place your hands in an L-shape form, and rub your scalp starting at your hairline. Continue moving your fingers across your head in small, circular movements for about 5-10 minutes. This promotes blood flow to your scalp, which encourages hair growth.  In addition, the essential oils decrease stress levels. Managing your stress levels helps avoid hair thinning. You can use either eucalyptus, rosemary, peppermint, or tea tree. Avoid putting too much pressure on your temples and neck.
A:
2-3 times a week with sulfate-free shampoo. Condition Rinse your hair with cold water. Apply a deep conditioning treatment at least 1 time a week. Massage your scalp