Does my child have a cold or sinus infection?

A frequent concern doctors hear is, “How can I tell if my child has a cold versus a bacterial sinus infection?” Colds and sinus infections share many symptoms, but there are distinct differences. Maithilee Menezes, MD, an otolaryngologist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, talks about the differences between these two illnesses.
A cold may produce a fever for a day or two, and then the fever will fade. A typical cold will last five to 10 days. Symptoms include discharge, which may change colors, from the nose. Thickening or change in color is not always a sign of a sinus infection.
A sinus infection can start out with a cough or cold symptoms. Typically, these symptoms will last for more than seven to 10 days. Additionally, the fever may fade and then return, often spiking higher than before.
Distinguishing between a cold and a bacterial infection can be difficult. The key differences are severity of symptoms and how long they last. Sinus infections may also cause headaches, fatigue, lack of energy and general malaise.
If your child is having acute symptoms like respiratory distress, take them to the emergency department. St. Louis Children’s Hospital has six pediatric emergency department locations across the St. Louis and southern Illinois region. These include St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital at Memorial Hospital Belleville, Children’s Hospital at Memorial Hospital Shiloh, Children’s Hospital at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, Children’s Hospital at Northwest HealthCare and Children’s Hospital at Progress West Hospital.
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The St. Louis Children’s Hospital KZbin station is intended as a reference and information source only. If you suspect you have a health problem, you should seek immediate care with the appropriate health care professionals. The information on this website is not a substitute for professional care, and must not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. For help finding a doctor, St. Louis Children's Hospital Answer Line may be of assistance at 314.454.KIDS (5437). The opinions expressed in these videos are those of the individual writers, not necessarily St. Louis Children's Hospital or Washington University School of Medicine. BJC HealthCare and Washington University School of Medicine assume no liability for the information contained in this website or for its use.