During the winter cold and flu season, we often get questions regarding the color of a child's nasal discharge, especially concerns that green nasal discharge means that the child has a bacterial infection. While green discharge can, in some instances, indicate a bacterial infection, in most cases it does not. 
 

Children under 5 have not developed the sinuses above the eyes, and sinusitis in younger children is uncommon. In older children, sinusitis is diagnosed as a combination of persistent discolored nasal discharge accompanied by sinus pain/tenderness and fever. 
 

The American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Practice Guideline from 2013 states:

The diagnosis of acute bacterial sinusitis is made when a child with an acute upper respiratory tract infection (URI) presents with (1) persistent illness (nasal discharge [of any quality] or daytime cough or both lasting more than 10 days without improvement), (2) a worsening course (worsening or new onset of nasal discharge, daytime cough, or fever after initial improvement), or (3) severe onset (concurrent fever [temperature ≥39°C/102.2°F] and purulent nasal discharge for at least 3 consecutive days).


Please don't hesitate to contact our office with any questions or concerns. We are happy to help assist during this flu and cold season!