Catarrh

Catarrh is a build-up of mucus (phlegm) in your airways. Most often it settles at the back of the nose, in the throat or in the sinuses.

For many people it passes after a while, but some live with it for months or even years, and this is called chronic catarrh. Catarrh isn't harmful, and there are treatments you can use.

Catarrh can cause a number of problems in your nose, throat and ears. You may notice:

• a constant need to clear your throat
• a feeling that your throat is blocked
• a blocked or stuffy nose that you can't clear
• a runny nose
• a feeling of mucus running down the back of your throat
• a persistent cough
• headache
• facial pain
• a reduced sense of smell and taste
• a crackling sensation in your ear and some temporary hearing loss

These problems can be frustrating to live with. They may affect your sleep, and that can leave you feeling tired.

• your catarrh is affecting your daily life
• you have had symptoms of catarrh for more than a few weeks

Your doctor may check whether something else is causing the catarrh, such as nasal polyps or allergies. You may also be referred to a specialist for tests.

Catarrh often clears up by itself within a few days or weeks.

You can ask a pharmacist for:

• advice about catarrh
• medicines you can buy without a prescription, such as decongestants, antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays

• stay well hydrated
• use a saline nasal rinse several times a day (you can buy these from a pharmacy, or make one at home with half a teaspoon of salt in a pint of boiled water that has been left to cool)
• avoid things that trigger your symptoms, such as allergens or smoky places
• avoid warm, dry atmospheres, such as places with air conditioning and car heating systems. Placing plants or bowls of water in a room may help to keep the air humid

Catarrh is usually caused by your immune system reacting to an infection or an irritation. The lining of your nose and throat becomes swollen and makes mucus.

This can be triggered by:

• a cold or other infections
• hay fever or other types of allergic rhinitis
• non-allergic rhinitis
• nasal polyps

If you have an underlying condition, treating it may help your catarrh.

Doctors don't know exactly what causes chronic catarrh, but it's often the result of an allergy or infection. It may also be linked to an:

• abnormality in the way mucus travels within the nose
• increased sensitivity to mucus in the back of the nose and throat