Catarrh is an excessive build-up of mucus in one of the airways or cavities of the body. It is usually found inside the nose, but it can also occur in the:
Catarrh is not a condition in itself, but a symptom of a condition such as:
Acute and chronic catarrh
Most cases of catarrh are acute, which means it will pass within a few days once the body fights off the underlying infection. However, some people can experience chronic (persistent) catarrh, either due to an allergy or because they have an abnormality inside their nose, such as nasal polyps.
The symptoms of acute catarrh can usually be relieved by taking a short-term course of decongestants. Treatment for chronic catarrh will depend on the underlying causes. For more information, see Catarrh - treatment
Glossary
- Acute
- Acute means occuring suddenly or over a short period of time.
- Chronic
- Chronic usually means a condition that continues for a long time or keeps coming back.
- Decongestants
- Decongestant medicine relieves congestion by reducing the swelling of the lining the nose and sinuses and drying up the mucous.
Continue to next section: Symptoms associated with catarrh