Your child is experiencing noticeable bluish-purple circles under his eyes and you wonder if his symptoms are a sign of a more serious condition. Although this symptom may be visually disturbing, it is not typically a sign of a condition that is untreatable. Because the skin under the eyes is very thin, inflammation of these veins may result in noticeable skin changes under your child's eyes, according to Parents.com.
Allergies
According to Barton D. Schmitt, MD, a physician with Children's Hospital of Denver and author of a book on children's health, allergies are most often to blame for a child's dark undereye circles. When a child has difficulty with allergies, allergens can cause the nose to become congested. Congestion causes inflammation in the blood vessels, which then results in the veins under the eyes to enlarge and darken. Dr. Schmitt recommends treating the nasal congestion and the symptoms likely will go away.
Symptoms that indicate your child's dark undereye circles may be due to allergies include coughing, watery eyes, sneezing, rubbing the nose and wheezing, according to BabyCenter.com.
Adenoid Blockage
The adenoids are spongy areas located near the tonsils that are responsible for trapping dirt, bacteria and other harmful particles that can be taken in through the mouth. However, over time too many bacteria and particles get trapped in the adenoids and cause the adenoids to swell and become enlarged, according to AboutKidsHealth.com. The enlarged adenoids can cause swelling in the veins under the eyes and result in dark circles. This condition may also be signified by your child breathing more through his mouth than nose. If the problem cannot be alleviated through medication, removal may be necessary.
Chronic Sinus Infections/Cold
When germs and viruses enter the sinus cavities, which are located in the areas directly under the eyes, small hairs known as cilia typically move these bacteria out through the cavity. However, if germs or viruses become too great in number, the cilia cannot move these through, and inflammation can result. This can cause a condition known as chronic sinusitis or a cold, which can cause inflammation of the blood vessels under the eyes, according to BabyCenter.com.
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