Sinuses are air spaces in the bones of the face around the nose. The sinuses can get clogged from mucus or polyps (harmless growths). This can lead to sinusitis (swelling and irritation of the sinuses). Your child had functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) to open the sinuses. They may have pain, black eyes, a swollen nose, or small nosebleeds for a few days. They will also have nasal stuffiness (congestion), which will slowly feel better over a few weeks.

Follow your health care provider's recommendations for:

• Giving any pain medicine. This may include acetaminophen (Tylenol^® or a store brand), ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand), or prescription pain medicine. Some pain medicines include the same or similar ingredients. To avoid giving too much, give the medicines exactly as your care team recommends.
• Using any nasal sprays and other medicines.
• How and when to change the dressing (a thin cloth to help with drainage and bleeding).
• When to follow up.
• When it's OK for your child to go back to full activities, including sports.

At home:

• Your child can eat a regular diet.
• Don't let your child blow their nose until your health care provider says it's OK. If mucus or a small amount of blood comes out of the nose, just clean the outside of the nose gently. Do not squeeze the nose or put a tissue or anything else into your child's nose.
• Tell your child that if they need to sneeze, they should open their mouth so they sneeze through the mouth instead of the nose.

Your child:

• has a nosebleed with more than a teaspoon of blood
• gets a fever
• has pain that isn't helped by pain medicine
• vomits
• has a headache
• has swelling around the eyes

Your child:

• has a nosebleed or drainage from the nose that won't stop
• has changes in vision
• vomits a lot of blood

Why is FESS done? Sometimes, the sinuses become very narrow and clogged with mucus because of infections, swelling, or growths (polyps) in the lining of the sinuses. FESS helps open the sinuses so air and mucus can flow through them again.

How is FESS done? The surgeon put a thin tool called an endoscope through your child's nose into the sinuses. The endoscope lights the inside of the sinuses and enlarges the view. The surgeon used gentle suction to clean out mucus or pus, and took out any blockage to make the air spaces in the sinuses bigger. Usually, a dressing is placed inside and under the nose to catch any drainage.