Medical Questions » Nose and Sinuses Questions » Question No. 738
| Question: | My doctor describes the constant rubbish I swallow as cattarh. What causes catarrh? |
| Answer: | Catarrh is the post-nasal drip that drives some poor patients crazy with the constant cough and irritated throat, and may be associated with bad breath and nausea as the creek of foul phlegm winds its way down the back of the throat and into the stomach.
It can be caused by many different factors, and normally two or three are responsible, making it almost impossible to cure, and difficult to control. The causes include both bacterial and viral infections, allergies, emotional changes, hormonal changes, temperature changes, climatic changes and changes in position.
Bacteria can be treated by antibiotics, but the other causes will all require combinations of antihistamine tablets, nasal decongestants, steroid nose sprays, liquefying agents and anti-allergy sprays.
After some trial and error with numerous medications, and sometimes surgery to aid in the drainage of the sinuses, most people can achieve some degree of relief from this most annoying condition.
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