Condition: Catarrh

Most people will experience catarrh as a symptom of the common cold, which alleviates quite quickly, but others can suffer from it more persistently and for several years at a time.

Overview

Bookings: bookings.ent@onewelbeck.com

Tel: 020 3653 2007


What is catarrh?

Catarrh is a common condition but can be described as a number of different things, such as:

  • The feeling of mucus at the back of your nose
  • A build-up of phlegm in your throat
  • A continuous desire to clear your throat

Most people will experience catarrh as a symptom of the common cold, which alleviates quite quickly, but others can suffer from it more persistently and for several years at a time. Chronic catarrh can feel like constantly having a cold without any of the other usual symptoms.

Two types of catarrh have been identified:

  • An excess of mucus that runs out of your nose (rhinitis)
  • A sensation of an excess of mucus that you are unable to clear from your nose or throat.

What are the
causes of catarrh?

Research has suggested that catarrh is not related to allergy or any kind of abnormality in the way mucus is transported within the nose. A possible cause is more likely to be an abnormality of the feeling in the lining in the back of the nose and throat, which explains why many patients feel unable to clear the mucus that they sense in their throat.


What are the
symptoms of Catarrh?

Aside from the feeling of mucus in the back of the nose or throat, there are a number of other symptoms of catarrh, including:

  • a sensation of nasal congestion
  • ineffective nose blowing
  • throat discomfort
  • crackling or dragging sensation in the ears
  • a sensation of choking or something stuck in the throat
  • a constant cough or of feeling sick

How is
Catarrh diagnosed?

As catarrh is not caused by an actual disease, but simply a sensation that you feel, there is no specific test used to diagnose it.


How is
Catarrh treated?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for chronic catarrh. Some sufferers find partial relief from their symptoms by using saline nasal rinses, which can be purchased over the counter or made at home. These need to be used regularly (3-4 times a day) and for a long period of time. Those who also have a runny nose will find a steroid nasal spray helps their symptom.


Contact Us

Condition overview
Catarrh

Causes

abnormality of the feeling in the lining in the ...

Symptoms

nasal congestion, throat discomfort,a constant c...

Tests

Treatment

saline nasal rinses

Catarrh Specialists

Our consultants, who are all either heads of service at London teaching hospitals, or have played major roles in clinical innovation, employ their collective expertise, knowledge and deep experience to deliver the best care possible. Each team is made up of some of the country’s most well-regarded experts in their sub-specialist fields.

Bookings are avaliable

Mr Jahangir Ahmed

Consultant ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Head, Neck, Acute and chronic cough, Snoring, Sleep Apnea, Thyroid Disorders, Laryngology, Endocrine Surgery, Neck Lumps, Head and Neck Cancer, Salivary Gland Lumps, Tonsil and Adenoid Disorders, Swallowing Disorders, Sinusitis, Nasal Polyps, Nasal Allergy, Microlaryngoscopy, Larynx and Vocal Fold Surgery, Airway Obstruction, Throat and Neck Pain, Nasal Blockage, Tracheal Surgery, Laser Surgery, Airway Reconstruction, Tonsillectomy, Palatal Surgery, Robotic Surgery, Head and Neck Cancer Surgery, Lymph Node Excision, Neck Dissection, Thyroidectomy, Parotidectomy, Submandibular Gland Excision, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Septal and Turbinate Surgery, Head and Neck Surgery, Ear, Nose and Throat, Thyroid Cancers.

Bookings are avaliable

Mr Chadwan Al Yaghchi

Consultant ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Laryngology, Ear, Nose and Throat, Snoring, Swallowing Assessments, Sleep Disorders, Sleep Apnea, Voice Disorders, Head and Neck Surgery.

Ms Christella Antoni

Consultant Speech & Language Therapist

Specialist expertise: Laryngology, Speech and Language Therapy, Voice Disorders, Transgender Voice Modification, Ear, Nose and Throat.

Mr Khalid Ghufoor

Consultant ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Laryngology, Sleep Disorders, Sleep Apnea, Endocrine Surgery, Voice Disorders, Dysphagia, Head and Neck Cancer, Salivary Gland Disease, Tonsil/Adenoid Disorders, Hearing Loss, Otitis Media, Glue Ear, Nasal Polyps, Airways Diseases, Otolaryngology, Speech Disorders, Neck Lumps, Surgical Oncology, Thyroid Surgery, Parotid Surgery, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Microsurgery, Tracheal Surgery, Head and Neck Surgery.

Mr Nick Hamilton

Consultant Laryngologist and ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Laryngology, Ear, Nose and Throat, Swallowing Assessments, Snoring, Airway Stenosis, Tracheostomy, Voice Disorders, Sore Throat, Neck and Throat Lumps, Neck Lumps, Swallowing Disorders, Tonsillitis, Nasal Allergy, Nasal Obstruction.

Professor Guri Sandhu

Consultant Laryngologist and Head & Neck Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Laryngology, Snoring, Sleep Disorders, Swallowing Assessments, Voice Disorders, Airway Stenosis, Acute and chronic cough, Sore Throat, Neck Lumps, Salivary Gland Lumps, Neck, Sleep Apnea, Exercise Induced Laryngeal Obstruction, Tonsil and Adenoid Disorders, Head and Neck Surgery.

Miss Natalie Watson

Consultant ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: ENT, Laryngology, Voice Disorders, Swallowing Disorders, Breathing Problems, Throat Disorders, Cough, Sleep Disorders, Ear, Nose and Throat.

Bookings are avaliable

Professor Alwyn D’Souza

Consultant ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Rhinology, Nose and Sinus Surgery, Facial Plastics, Reconstructive Surgery.

Bookings are avaliable

Professor Claire Hopkins

Consultant ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Rhinology, Loss of smell, Sinusitis, Hay fever, Rhinitis, Anosmia, Sinonasal Tumours, Sinus Surgery, Epistaxis, Nosebleeds, Nasal Polyps, Nasal Allergy, Nasal Obstruction, Turbinoplasty, Septal and Turbinate Surgery, Tonsillectomy, Adenoidectomy, Rhinoplasty, Balloon Sinuplasty, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery.

Bookings are avaliable

Mr Samuel Jayaraj

Consultant ENT Surgeon, Rhinologist and Sinus Specialist

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Rhinology, Sinusitis, Rhinitis, Hay fever, Nasal Polyps, Nosebleeds, Sinus Surgery, Septal and Turbinate Surgery, Turbinoplasty, Nasal Obstruction, Paediatric ENT, Ear Infections, Blocked Ears, Tonsil Disorders, Adenoidectomy, Balloon Sinuplasty, Rhinoplasty, Eustachian Tuboplasty, Loss of smell.

Bookings are avaliable

Mr Anil Joshi

Consultant ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Microsuction, Blocked Ears, Dizziness, Rhinoplasty, Tonsillectomy, Hearing Loss, Vertigo, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Septoplasty, Pinnaplasty, Otoplasty, Facial Scars, Facial Plastics, Rhinology.

Mr Raj Lakhani

Consultant Rhinologist, Facial Plastic and ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Rhinology, Ear, Nose and Throat, Nasal Polyps, Loss of smell, Hearing Loss, Dizziness, Vertigo, Tinnitus, Snoring, Sleep Apnea, Septal and Turbinate Surgery, Sinus Surgery, Balloon Sinuplasty, Paediatric ENT.

Bookings are avaliable

Mr Annakan Navaratnam

Consultant Rhinologist, ENT and Facial Plastic Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Rhinology, Rhinitis, Hay fever, Sinusitis, Nasal Polyps, Epistaxis, Hearing Loss, Dizziness, Ear wax build-up, Tonsillitis, Voice Disorders, Ear, Nose and Throat, Rhinoplasty, Septoplasty, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery.

Bookings are avaliable

Ms Catherine Rennie

Consultant ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Rhinology, Sinusitis, Sinus Surgery, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Rhinoplasty, Septal and Turbinate Surgery, Adenoidectomy, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Mr David Roberts

ENT Consultant Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Endoscopic Neurosurgery, Ear, Nose and Throat, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Nasal Dysfunction, Head and Neck Surgery, Rhinology.

View all consultants