Many of us have experienced the feeling of mucus trapped in our nose or throat. The sensation can sometimes lead to discomfort or a constant urge to swallow or clear your throat.
This condition is called catarrh. It’s when mucus builds up in your nose, sinuses, or throat. Another term for catarrh is “postnasal drip.”
Keep reading to learn more about catarrh in adults and children, some common risk factors, and how the condition can be treated.
Catarrh is when mucus accumulates in your nose, throat, or sinuses. The word “catarrh” comes from an ancient Greek phrase meaning “to flow down.” In fact, if you have catarrh, you may feel as if mucus is slowly dripping down the back of your throat.
The word “catarrh” isn’t very common in the United States. Another term for catarrh that you may be more familiar with is “postnasal drip.”
It’s believed that catarrh happens when your body responds to things like an infection or an irritant. This reaction can cause swelling in your nose and sinuses, leading to an increase in the amount of mucus that’s made.
Catarrh is often only temporary. However, in some people, it can become chronic. While it’s unclear what causes chronic catarrh, it’s believed to occur due to an increased awareness of and sensitivity to symptoms affecting the nose and throat.
Catarrh is most commonly associated with the following factors:
- Infections. The common cold, the flu, and sinus infections can all lead to catarrh.
- Allergies. People who have allergies may also experience catarrh. Some common allergens include things like pollen, dust, and pet dander.
- Environment. Things in your environment — such as changes in the weather or being around irritants like cigarette smoke, fumes, or pollution — can cause catarrh.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). People with GERD may find that they experience catarrh.
- Nose or sinus structure. Nasal polyps or other abnormalities in the structure of the nose or sinuses may lead to catarrh.
- Hormones. The changes in hormones that occur during puberty, during pregnancy, or from using oral contraceptives can cause catarrh.
- Spicy foods. Eating spicy foods can lead to an increase in mucus production, leading you to experience transient (temporary) catarrh.
Because a variety of different factors are associated with catarrh, it can sometimes be hard to prevent. In some cases, the exact cause of your symptoms may not be identifiable.
However, there are some steps you can take in your day-to-day life that may reduce your risk of developing catarrh, including:
- Avoid triggers. If your catarrh is associated with allergies or irritants, try to avoid situations that may trigger symptoms. For example, you might avoid outdoor activities during pollen season or keep away from areas where smoking is permitted.
- Use a humidifier. Since dry air may contribute to catarrh, consider trying out a humidifier to help add moisture to your home.
- Prevent infections. Prevent an infection that may lead to catarrh by washing your hands frequently and avoiding contact with people who are sick.
- Clean often. If you experience catarrh due to allergies, cleaning can help clear allergens from your home. Focus on things like vacuuming, dusting, and washing fabrics and bed linens.
The symptoms of catarrh can include:
- feeling like your nose is stuffy and being unable to clear it
- sensation of mucus running down the back of your throat or of having a lump in your throat
- frequently needing to clear your throat or swallow
- persistent coughing
- sore throat
- crackling feeling in your ears
- facial pain
- dulled sense of smell or taste
- trouble sleeping
There aren’t any specific diagnostic tests for catarrh. In most cases, people are said to have catarrh based on the sensations they’re feeling in their nose and throat.
If you see your doctor for catarrh, they’ll ask for your medical history and perform a physical examination. If they think an underlying condition like allergies, GERD, or a nasal polyp is causing your condition, they may order additional tests.
You can do the following things at home to help ease catarrh:
- Stay hydrated. Make sure you’re drinking enough water, which can help thin mucus in your nose and throat.
- Increase humidity. Using a humidifier or inhaling steam can help loosen mucus and ease throat discomfort.
- Sip water. Constantly clearing your throat can lead to increased throat irritation. If you feel like you need to clear your throat, take a small sip of cold water instead.
- Prop yourself up at night. Mucus can accumulate in your throat when you’re lying down. To help prevent this, use some pillows to prop yourself up when you go to bed.
- Use a nasal rinse. Utilizing a saline nasal rinse can help clear your nasal passages of excess mucus. These can be purchased over the counter (OTC) or made at home.
- Gargle salt water. Gargling with salt water can help break up mucus and ease discomfort in your throat.
- Try OTC medications. Examples of medications that may be helpful include nasal decongestants (Sudafed, Afrin), antihistamines (Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec), and expectorants (Mucinex, Robitussin).
Additionally, if an underlying condition is causing your catarrh, your doctor will work to treat that. For example, they may prescribe antibiotics for a bacterial sinus infection or medications for GERD.
Children can also have catarrh. Generally speaking, the condition is quite similar for both adults and children. However, there are some additional things to be aware of when it comes to catarrh in children.
As in adults, catarrh in children is often associated with things like infections, allergies, or environmental irritants. Some additional risk factors for children include:
- foreign object in the nose
- enlarged adenoids
- cystic fibrosis
- immunodeficiency disorders
- cilia dysfunction disorders, such as primary ciliary dyskinesia or Kartagener’s syndrome
Catarrh also has similar symptoms in adults and children. However, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology notes that while other symptoms may occur, persistent cough is sometimes the only noticeable symptom in children.
Like in adults, catarrh in children is rarely harmful and will often ease over time. Some additional tips for alleviating catarrh symptoms in children include:
- Use a nasal aspirator. This is a device that uses suction to gently remove excess mucus from a child’s nose. It may be particularly helpful for reducing nasal mucus in babies and toddlers.
- Consider saline. Mucus can sometimes be too thick to remove with an aspirator. In these cases, saline nasal drops or sprays can be used to thin it out. There are many OTC products available that are appropriately sized for children.
- Harness humidity. Using a humidifier in your home may help thin mucus in a child’s nose and throat.
- Try OTC medications. Many decongestants or antihistamines are specifically formulated for children. Always read the label carefully before using these, and don’t hesitate to talk with your child’s pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns.
When to see the doctor
Although it can be annoying, catarrh isn’t harmful. However, see your doctor or other healthcare provider if you or your child has symptoms of catarrh that happen along with:
Additionally, if catarrh is persistent or long-lasting, see your healthcare provider to determine whether it’s being caused by an underlying health condition. They can then work with you to develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Typically, catarrh lasts only for a period of days or weeks. Often, it goes away as the underlying condition that’s causing it improves or is treated.
There’s currently no specific cure for chronic catarrh. Because of this, individuals with chronic catarrh often implement a variety of home, OTC, or prescription remedies into their daily lives to help manage their symptoms.
Catarrh happens when mucus builds up in your nose, sinuses, or throat. It can affect both adults and children. You may also see catarrh referred to as postnasal drip.
Catarrh is associated with a variety of factors, such as infections, allergies, and irritants. Some of the common symptoms include feelings of nasal stuffiness or congestion, frequent swallowing or clearing of the throat, and persistent cough.
Typically, catarrh goes away on its own and can be treated at home by using a humidifier, saline washes, or OTC medications.
See your doctor or other healthcare provider if catarrh is persistent or occurs with shortness of breath, unexplained fever, or bloody mucus.
Wengi wetu tumewahi kuhisi kwamba tumevimba na umajimaji katika pua au koo. Nyakati nyingine hisia hiyo yaweza kusababisha usumbufu au hamu ya daima ya kumeza au kusafisha koo. Hali hiyo huitwa catarrh. Ni wakati unapoanza kupata umajimaji wa umajimaji katika pua, sinusi, au koo. Neno jingine la catarrh ni <unk> postnasal drip.<unk> Endelea kusoma ili kujifunza zaidi kuhusu catarrh kwa watu wazima na watoto, baadhi ya mambo ya kawaida ya hatari, na jinsi hali hiyo inaweza kutibiwa. Catarrh ni wakati mucus hukusanyika katika pua yako, koo, au sinuses. "Katari ni neno la Kigiriki la kale linalomaanisha ""kuanguka chini"" na linaweza kusababisha maumivu ya tumbo na tumbo." Neno "catarrh" si la kawaida sana nchini Marekani. "Jina la kawaida la ""catarrh"" ni ""postnasal drip"" na linatokana na athari za mwili kwa vitu kama vile ugonjwa au kichocheo." Mmenyuko huu unaweza kusababisha uvimbe katika pua yako na sinuses, na kusababisha ongezeko la kiasi cha mucus kwamba ni alifanya. Mara nyingi ugonjwa huo ni wa muda tu. Hata hivyo, kwa watu fulani, inaweza kuwa ya kudumu. Ingawa haijulikani ni nini husababisha catarrh ya muda mrefu, inaaminika kutokea kwa sababu ya kuongezeka kwa ufahamu na unyeti kwa dalili zinazoathiri pua na koo. Catarrh kwa kawaida huhusianishwa na mambo yafuatayo: - Maambukizo. Homa ya kawaida, mafua, na maambukizo ya sinusi yanaweza kusababisha ugonjwa wa catarrh. - Hisia za mzio. Watu walio na mzio wa mkojo wanaweza pia kupatwa na ugonjwa wa catarrh. Baadhi ya visababishi vya mzio vinavyojulikana sana ni vimelea, vumbi, na manyoya ya wanyama-vipenzi. - Mazingira. Mambo katika mazingira yako - kama vile mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa au kuwa karibu na vitu vinavyosumbua kama moshi wa sigareti, moshi, au uchafuzi wa mazingira - yanaweza kusababisha catarrh. - Gastroesophageal reflux ugonjwa (GERD). Watu wenye GERD wanaweza kupata ugonjwa wa catarrh. - Pua au muundo wa sinus. Polyps za pua au kasoro nyingine katika muundo wa pua au sinuses zaweza kusababisha catarrh. - Hormon. Mabadiliko ya homoni yanayotokea wakati wa kubalehe, wakati wa ujauzito, au kutokana na kutumia dawa za kuzuia mimba za mdomo yanaweza kusababisha ugonjwa wa catarrh. - Vyakula vyenye vikolezo. Kula vyakula vyenye vikolezo kunaweza kuongeza utengenezaji wa umajimaji, na kukusababisha uwe na ugonjwa wa kuhara wa muda mfupi. Kwa sababu kuna mambo mbalimbali yanayohusiana na ugonjwa wa kichefuchefu, nyakati nyingine inaweza kuwa vigumu kuuzuia. Katika visa fulani, huenda kisababishi halisi cha dalili zako kisitambuliwe. Hata hivyo, kuna hatua ambazo unaweza kuchukua katika maisha yako ya kila siku ambazo zinaweza kupunguza hatari ya kupata catarrh, ikiwa ni pamoja na: Ikiwa ugonjwa wako wa kichefuchefu unahusiana na mzio au vitu vinavyofanya mwili uwe na uchungu, jaribu kuepuka hali zinazoweza kusababisha dalili. Kwa mfano, unaweza kuepuka kufanya shughuli za nje wakati wa msimu wa chavua au kuepuka maeneo ambako kuvuta sigareti kunaruhusiwa. - Tumia kiyoyozi. Kwa kuwa hewa kavu inaweza kusababisha ugonjwa wa catarrh, fikiria kujaribu humidifier ili kuongeza unyevu nyumbani kwako. - Kuzuia maambukizo. Jihadharini na maambukizi ambayo yanaweza kusababisha catarrh kwa kuosha mikono yako mara kwa mara na kuepuka kuwasiliana na watu walio wagonjwa. - Safisha mara nyingi. Ikiwa una ugonjwa wa catarrh, kusafisha nyumba yako inaweza kusaidia kuondoa virusi vya mzio. Fanya kazi ya kusafisha, kusafisha, na kuosha vitambaa na vitambaa vya kitanda. Dalili za catarrh zinaweza kujumuisha: - kuhisi kama pua yako imefungwa na haiwezi kuifuta - hisia ya mucus inayotiririka nyuma ya koo yako au kuwa na kamba katika koo yako - mara nyingi unahitaji kuifuta koo yako au kumeza - kikohozi cha kudumu - maumivu ya koo - hisia ya crackling katika masikio yako - maumivu ya uso - hisia ya harufu au ladha - shida ya kulala. Katika visa vingi, watu husemwa kuwa na catarrh kulingana na hisia wanazohisi katika pua na koo. Ukimwona daktari wako kwa sababu ya ugonjwa wa catarrh, watakuuliza historia yako ya matibabu na kufanya uchunguzi wa kimwili. Ikiwa una tatizo la msingi kama vile allergies, GERD, au polyp ya pua, unaweza kuagiza uchunguzi wa ziada. Unaweza kufanya mambo yafuatayo nyumbani ili kusaidia kupunguza catarrh: - Endelea kuwa na maji mengi. Hakikisha unakunywa maji ya kutosha, ambayo yanaweza kusaidia kuondoa umajimaji katika pua na koo. - Ongeza unyevu. Kutumia kifaa cha kuyeyusha unyevu au kupumua mvuke kunaweza kusaidia kuondoa umajimaji na kupunguza maumivu ya koo. - Kunywa maji. Kufuta koo daima kunaweza kusababisha kuchochewa zaidi kwa koo. Ikiwa unahisi kama unahitaji kusafisha koo lako, kunywa sip ndogo ya maji baridi badala yake. - Jitegemeze usiku. Mkojo waweza kujilimbikizia katika koo lako unapolala. Ili kuzuia hali hiyo, tumia mto ili ujitegemeze unapokwenda kulala. - Tumia maji ya kuosha pua. Kutumia maji ya chumvi ya pua kunaweza kukusaidia kuondoa umajimaji mwingi kwenye pua. Hizi zinaweza kununuliwa kwenye kaunta (OTC) au kufanywa nyumbani. - Gargle maji ya chumvi. Kuoga kwa maji ya chumvi kunaweza kusaidia kuvunja umajimaji na kupunguza maumivu ya koo. - Jaribu dawa za OTC. Mifano ya dawa ambazo zinaweza kusaidia ni pamoja na decongestants ya pua (Sudafed, Afrin), antihistamines (Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec), na expectorants (Mucinex, Robitussin). Kwa kuongezea, ikiwa hali ya msingi inasababisha catarrh yako, daktari wako atafanya kazi ya kutibu hali hiyo. Kwa mfano, wanaweza kuagiza dawa za kuua viini kwa ajili ya maambukizo ya bakteria ya sinus au dawa kwa ajili ya GERD. Watoto pia wanaweza kuwa na ugonjwa wa catarrh. Kwa ujumla, hali hiyo ni sawa sana kwa watu wazima na watoto. Hata hivyo, kuna mambo mengine ambayo ni lazima yafikiriwe inapohusu ugonjwa wa catarrh kwa watoto. Kama ilivyo kwa watu wazima, ugonjwa wa catarrh kwa watoto mara nyingi huhusianishwa na mambo kama vile maambukizo, mzio, au vitu vinavyosababisha uchungu wa mazingira. Baadhi ya sababu za hatari kwa watoto ni pamoja na: - kitu kigeni katika pua - adenoids kupanuliwa - cystic fibrosis - immunodeficiency matatizo - cilia dysfunction matatizo, kama vile msingi ciliary dyskinesia au Kartagener's syndrome Catarrh pia ina dalili sawa katika watu wazima na watoto. Hata hivyo, Shirika la Marekani la Alergi, Pumu, na Kinga la Anga linasema kwamba ingawa dalili nyingine zaweza kutokea, kikohozi cha kudumu nyakati nyingine ndicho dalili pekee inayoonekana kwa watoto. Kama ilivyo kwa watu wazima, ugonjwa wa catarrh kwa watoto ni hatari mara chache na mara nyingi hupungua baada ya muda. Baadhi ya vidokezo vya ziada vya kupunguza dalili za catarrh kwa watoto ni pamoja na: - Tumia aspirator ya pua. Hii ni kifaa kinachotumia kunyonya ili kuondoa kwa upole umajimaji mwingi kutoka kwenye pua ya mtoto. Inaweza kusaidia hasa kupunguza umajimaji wa pua kwa watoto wachanga na wachanga. - Fikiria suluhisho la chumvi. Nyakati nyingine umajimaji waweza kuwa mzito sana usiweze kuondolewa kwa kutumia mashine ya kunyonya. Katika visa hivyo, matone ya chumvi au dawa za kunyunyizia pua zaweza kutumiwa kuipunguza. Kuna bidhaa nyingi za OTC zinazopatikana ambazo zina ukubwa unaofaa kwa ajili ya watoto. - Kuimarisha unyevu. Kutumia kifaa cha kutuliza unyevu nyumbani kunaweza kusaidia kuondoa umajimaji katika pua na koo la mtoto. - Jaribu dawa za OTC. Dawa nyingi za kupunguza upungufu wa damu au za kupambana na kisukari hutengenezwa hasa kwa ajili ya watoto. Sikuzote soma lebo kwa uangalifu kabla ya kutumia hizi, na usisite kuzungumza na daktari wa watoto wa mtoto wako ikiwa una maswali au wasiwasi. Wakati wa kumwona daktari Ingawa inaweza kuwa yenye kukasirisha, catarrh si hatari. Hata hivyo, mwone daktari wako au mtoa huduma nyingine ya afya ikiwa wewe au mtoto wako una dalili za catarrh ambazo hutokea pamoja na: Kwa kuongezea, ikiwa catarrh ni ya kudumu au ya muda mrefu, mwone mtoa huduma yako ya afya ili kuamua ikiwa inasababishwa na hali ya msingi ya afya. Kisha wanaweza kufanya kazi pamoja nawe ili kutengeneza mpango unaofaa wa matibabu. Kwa kawaida, ugonjwa huo huendelea kwa siku au majuma machache tu. Mara nyingi, ugonjwa huo huharibika wakati hali inayosababisha ugonjwa huo inapoboresha au inapotibiwa. Kwa sasa hakuna tiba maalum ya ugonjwa wa catarrh sugu. Kwa sababu hii, watu walio na ugonjwa wa cataracts mara nyingi huingiza dawa mbalimbali za nyumbani, OTC, au dawa za dawa katika maisha yao ya kila siku kusaidia kusimamia dalili zao. Catarrh hutokea wakati umajimaji wa umajimaji unapojilimbikiza kwenye pua, sinusi, au koo. Inaweza kuathiri watu wazima na watoto. Unaweza pia kuona catarrh inayoitwa drip ya baada ya pua. Catarrh huhusianishwa na mambo mbalimbali, kama vile maambukizo, mzio, na vitu vinavyosumbua. Baadhi ya dalili za kawaida ni pamoja na hisia za kufungwa kwa pua au msongamano, kumeza mara kwa mara au kuondoa koo, na kikohozi cha kudumu. Kwa kawaida, ugonjwa wa catarrh hutoweka peke yake na unaweza kutibiwa nyumbani kwa kutumia humidifier, maji ya chumvi, au dawa za OTC. Tafuta daktari wako au mtoa huduma mwingine wa afya ikiwa catarrh ni ya kudumu au hutokea na upungufu wa pumzi, homa isiyoelezeka, au umajimaji wenye damu.