Catarrhal phenomena: symptoms of catarrh

Catarrhal phenomena are various symptomatic signs that occur, mainly, in viral or colds. The main sign of catarrh is swelling, inflammation and hyperemia of the mucous membranes. Most often, such processes occur with flu, colds, acute respiratory diseases. Pathogens of catarrh are bacteria and adenoviruses. Once in the body, they cause many diseases.

How do catarrhal processes proceed in the upper respiratory tract?

Signs of catarrhal phenomena of the upper respiratory tract are characterized by inflammation of the bronchial mucosa, as a result of which sputum begins to accumulate in large numbers, cough and runny nose appear. It affects not only a certain area, but also located next to it, since the mucosa of the respiratory tract is a single whole.

Catarrhal phenomena of the upper respiratory tract, depending on the site of infection, are as follows:

• rhinitis;
• tonsillitis;
• laryngitis;
• Sinusitis (frontal sinusitis, maxillary sinusitis);
• pharyngitis.

Why do catarrhal diseases occur?

Catarrhal phenomena are exposed to people of any age, but most often pathological processes develop in the elderly because of decreased immunity.

Catarrhal processes can arise if a person's work is related to harmful substances. Chemical elements adversely affect the respiratory tract, which leads to catarrhal changes. Also, Qatar can occur due to hypothermia, in wet weather, with sudden temperature changes.

In addition, the predisposition to diseases plays a significant role. To provoke the appearance of the disease may anatomical features of the structure of the human body, the abuse of alcohol or tobacco products, poor environmental conditions, acute or chronic diseases, low immunity.

Symptoms of catarrh

The common symptoms of all catarrhal processes are practically the same. They include:

• labored breathing;
• temperature increase;
• lack of appetite;
• Body aches, general malaise;
• A feeling of dryness in the mouth;
• headache;
• dry cough.

Can catarrhal phenomena occur without temperature? This is quite possible and occurs if the disease is mild, the patient has decreased immunity, as well as some viral diseases (for example, with rhinovirus infection).

How are catarrhal processes diagnosed?

Catarrhal phenomena accompany a large number of diseases. During the visit to the doctor, he must provide a complete medical history, describe its symptoms. For treatment to be successful, it is important to determine the causative agent. It is necessary to donate blood and other body fluids to the analysis, which will allow to identify viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms, due to which the disease developed. If the disease is allergic, then a series of tests and samples are performed to determine the irritant.

In the presence of catarrhal phenomena, the doctor, in the first place, will suspect ORZ, SARS or influenza. If results were obtained and a correct diagnosis was made, the patient is treated accordingly. With the unclear nature of the disease, adequate treatment is possible only after establishing the correct diagnosis.

In some cases, in order to establish the exact cause of the chronic course of catarrhal phenomena, one studies the relationship with the living conditions of the patient. Prolonged non-passing rhinitis, persistent lacrimation and coughing can occur when living in damp and poorly ventilated rooms for many years, as a result of which the fungus begins to multiply intensively on the walls, the spores of which settle on the mucous membrane of a person.

Catarrhal phenomena in influenza

Catarrhal processes with influenza can occur both at the very beginning of the disease, and after a day or more. The patient begins to scratch his throat, there is pain when swallowing, the mucous membrane of the nose swells, a runny nose appears, coughing, sometimes with the discharge of phlegm, the voice becomes hoarse. The rhinitis at the beginning of the disease is accompanied by serous-mucous discharge, and subsequently it becomes dense mucus-purulent. Sometimes there is nasal bleeding. Tonsils, soft palate, tongue, arches, posterior pharyngeal wall swell and often acquire a cyanotic shade. There can be phenomena of laryngitis, tracheobronchitis, laryngotracheitis, bronchitis.

Accompanying the disease chills are not always very pronounced. At first it is rather small, and sometimes completely absent. Dizziness occurs almost immediately and can even be in a supine position.

Treatment of catarrhal diseases

Since catarrhal phenomena are just symptoms of the disease, therefore, in the first place, it is necessary to treat the underlying disease with the help of medications and procedures prescribed by the doctor.

When infections are prescribed abundant drink, in more severe cases - infusion therapy, antifungal and antiviral drugs, antibiotics or sulfonamides. Nasal passages should be rinsed with nasal sprays with sea water, instill vasoconstrictor drops. The throat is irrigated with special solutions, anti-inflammatory drops are injected into the eyes.

The doctor can prescribe phlegm-diluting agents, anti-cough drugs, as well as physiotherapy: inhalation, electrophoresis, UHF, warming, ultrasound. If catarrhal phenomena are allergic, prescribe antihistamines.

Conclusion

Thus, if there are symptoms of catarrh, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible to treat the underlying disease. It is better not to self-medicate, so that serious complications do not arise. To avoid diseases of the upper respiratory tract, preventive measures should be taken because it is much easier to prevent the disease than to treat it later.