Chronic Nasal Catarrh

New Zealand Listener, Volume 13, Issue 316, 13 July 1945, Page 24

Chronic Nasal Catarrh

(Written for "The Listener" by DR.

H .B.

TURBOTT

Director of the Division

of ochool Mygiene, Health Department)

nasal catarrh. It may follow a series of colds, or a single cold or influenzal attack that fails to clear up quickly. Stuffy, overheated rooms, excessive smoking, anaemia, and occupations with dust or fume hazards all help catarrh to develop. Any nasal obstruction hindering free nasal ventilation will also help germs to get established in the nasal lining. ; VERY common complaint is chronic The nasal septum divides the nose into two chambers. The lining everywhere is mucous membrane, kept moist with a clear sticky mucus from little glands. Shelves on the outer wall formed by the turbinate bones project into the nasal passages increasing the mucous membrane. Hence nasal trouble can spread into the sinuses, and sinus disease can infect the nose, or keep unhealthy conditions there in activity.

Simple chronic catarrh is the first stage of trouble. The nasal mucous membrane is swollen and reddened, especially over the lower turbinates and nasal septum. The airway is reduced. There is excessive secretion, watery; or a mixture of mucus and pus. It either drains forward to the nostrils, or passes backwards into the throat. If the mucous membrane over the turbinate bones still has the power to shrink, and this can be tested out with a little cocaine, medical treatment is hopeful. If not, and there is permanent thickening, the trouble is more serious. The mucous membrane thickens, the blood vessels and glands enlarge, fringes and polyps develop, with blockage of one or other nostril, and continuous, usually thickish, but sometimes watery, discharge. Such nasal lining is fairly useless, and fringes and enlarged ends of bones can be removed with advantage. (continued on next page)

(continued from previous page) One or other nostril is blocked to breathing and there is a feeling of fullness in the head. Mouth breathing, snoring, headaches, and a chronic nasal discharge develop. The discharge passes into the throat, and is especially annoying in the mornings. It may make the throat sore. The tube to the middle ear may get infected, causing middle ear catarrh and deafness. In the simple early stage, before permanent changes arise in- the nose, nasal douches and sprays are useful. A holiday in a dry high altitude climate helps. For example, Waikato sufferers often find’ a spell at Taupo beneficial to nasal catarrh and sinusitis. Vaccines are very uncertain in their effects, one from the patient’s own nasal secretion being best. In general, vaccines are unreliable. You can spend much money in catarrh cures, but in our modern city life, once past the simple stage, a cure is difficult. You shouldn’t treat yourself; the delay while you do so may be fatal. An ear, nose, and throat specialist should be consulted at the first sign of catarrh. If you have let it get into the permanent thickening stage, he may be able to ease the trouble by operative methods. His examination, helped by X-rays, may show the trouble originating from infected sinuses. Selftreatment of nasal catarrh is foolish and a waste of valuable time.