Catarrh
Overview
Catarrh is a build-up of mucus in your nose and sinuses and phlegm in your throat. It usually clears up by itself but see a GP if it lasts longer than a few weeks.
Symptoms
You may get catarrh if you have an infection like acold,fluorsinusitis. Symptoms of catarrh include: a constantly blocked nosefeeling like there's a lump or something stuck in your throata frequent need to swallow or cough to try to clear your throata feeling that mucus is slowly dripping down the back of your throat (postnasal drip)a crackling feeling in your ears These symptoms usually only last a few days, but sometimes they can last longer.
Causes
Catarrh is your body's natural reaction to things like infection. The lining in your nose, sinuses and throat becomes swollen and creates more mucus than normal. Causes of catarrh include: infections likecold,fluandsinusitispollution and cigarette smokeallergic reactions to things like pollen, dust and animalsconditions that affect the nose, such as nasal polyps
Treatment
A GP may suggest trying treatments for catarrh that you can get from a pharmacist, like decongestant medicines and salt water nose rinses. If your catarrh is caused bynasal polyps, a GP may prescribe steroid spray or nose drops. If these do not work, surgery may be needed to remove the polyps.