This is also a condition arising from cold and is not much different form coryza—the only cardinal difference being that in catarrh sneezing is one of the symptoms but, in coryza sneezing is a predominant symptom, though precipitating causes may be identical.
SYMPTOMS
The patient feels out-of sorts, loses his appetite; eyes begin to water and congest, there is water running from the nose; there is dryness of trickling in the throat and he constantly desires to swallow, spit or hawk; voice becomes hoarse, pain all over the body, slight temperature rise, headahe, nausea/vertigo.
Catarrh generally surfaces in damp or cold weather, hence avoid, being drenched with rain water, exposure to cold dry winds. In hilly regions, the sputum may block the nose and cause severe headache with fever. As soon as nostrils clear up, there is welcome relief. Discharge is generally muco-purulent, yellow, thick, tenacious and, if not treated, nasal discharge falls into cough that convulses the whole body. Prevention and caution account for half the treatment.
HOMEO MEDICINES
Arsenic Album 6 : Discharge is thin, acrid, hot and profuse, spells of frequent sneezing, too much malaise, watering eyes; restlessness; eyes, nose, throat are affected simultaneously.
Gelsemium 6 : Fever is preceded by heat in the head, thirst, flushed face, headache, watery eyes, pulse is quick and full; fever ushered in with cold shivering.
Bryonia-30 : Inflammation of wind-pipe and mucous membrane, alongwith burning sensation, inability to cough out phlegm, expectoration is scanty; hawking, stomach deranged, stitching pain in sides, watering from eyes, nostrils stuffed up and choked.
Allium Cepa-30 : Almost continuous discharge in drops, from nose, frequent sneezing discharge corrosive and irritating; there is sensation of rawness and burning.
PuIsatilla-30 : Discharge from nose is foul-smelling, useful when phlegm is purulent, yellow-greenish, thick, complaints aggravate at night, unberable and intense pain on side of head and ear; loss of taste, smell and sensations; heaviness of head.
Merc. Sol-30 : It is more useful when infection is serious. Sneezing, ulceration and pain in nose and throat, discharge purulent, yellow and thick, eyes in flammed, enlargement of neck glands, there is feeling of alternate heat and chill, symptoms aggravate at night.
Efforts should be directed to drain out mucus which can be facilitated by taking 3-4 doses of Hepar Sulph-200, to be followed by Kali Mur-30 and Kali Bihrome-30—a dose of each twice daily, alternatively (4 doses in all). Hepar sulph should be continued only until mucus has drained out, and never beyond that. When symptoms have disappeared, a single dose of Silicea-200 may be taken, to do rest of the job left behind by above-mentioned 3 medicines.
ALLOPATHIC TREATMENT
Efcorlin nasal drops, as detailed earlier, should be used but should not be used for long. Nazalen, Nasivion, Ephedrine, Enderine, Dristan Nasal drops (any of those) can be used with advantage as they are free from steroid. Orally a 5 day course of Septran D.S (one Tablet in the morning and evening—after a gap of 12 hours) will prove a quite safe antibiotic drug. Body pain, fever etc can be cured by a 6-hourly dose of Dristan tablet. If symptoms are grave and there is much restivity, consult your physician.
AYURVEDIC TREATMENT
Course of treatment, mentioned earlier, for Coryza may be repeated according to symptoms. Khadiradi Vati should be used as a lozenge to soothe throat irritation. Decoction of Banaphsha will prove as a useful remedy, if taken at bed time.