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Rhinopharyngitis or Acute Coryza: Treatment, Home Remedies, Risk Factors, Complications

Rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza usually affects the throat, the nasal, and respiratory systems, causing mucus to run down the nose, with difficulty in breathing, headache, fever, coughing, constant sneezing, and sore throat.

In this article you will learn the Treatment and Home remedies for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza as well as the risk factors and complications associated with it.

Treatment for Rhinopharyngitis or Acute Coryza

Treatment for Rhinopharyngitis or Acute Coryza

Studies have shown that there is no cure for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza. Antibiotics cause a lot of side effects than they may attempt to cure rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza. Some of the positive and negative effects of taking medications for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza:

  • Taking pain relievers like acetaminophen or tylenol for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza can damage the liver when taken more often. Acetaminophen should not be given to children below 3 months and carefully follow prescriptions when given it to older children. Care should also be taken in giving aspirin to children. Aspirin may be given to children older than 2 years but should not be given to children recovering from any flu like diseases, such as chicken pox as they may cause other diseases like the Reye’s syndrome.
  • It has been strongly advised by The Food and Drug Administration and the American academy of Pediatrics that cough syrups and Over The Counter (OTC) cough medicines for treating rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza should not be administered to children below 2 years as they often cause side effects like convulsion and rapid heartbeat, and they do not effectively treat the disease fast enough.
  • The prolonged use of decongestants nasal sprays for treating rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza by adults causes severe inflammation in the mucous and membranes and they should not be used in children as they may lead to other side effects.

The above medications may be taken for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza, but with strict adherence to prescriptions and exceptions should be noted. Although experts are still working on establishing the safety of rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza and cough medications, there are still side effects. If you need to give your child rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza and cold medicines, strictly follow prescriptions and do not give them two medicines that have active ingredients at the same time.

Home Remedies for Rhinopharyngitis or Acute Coryza

Some home remedies have proven to be faster and much safer ways of treating rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza. Some of the home remedies that can be taken for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza are:

  • Vitamin C is a powerful home remedy for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza. Vitamin C helps to improve the immune system, so, you may take them along with other treatments measures.
  • Another great home remedy for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza is to drink lot of fluids. Taking plenty liquids like warm water, warm lemon water, and pure fruit juices will help take care of the cold within a few days. This does not include caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes as they will dehydrate the body, causing more complications.
  • Best thing you can do for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza is to eat healthy food. Taking a lot of fresh fruits, vegetables, and food rich in fiber will also help the situation.
  • Getting enough sleep is the best home remedy for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza. It is highly advised that you take plenty of rest and stay indoors to avoid infecting others. Resting will strengthen your body and reduce your stress so your body can better fight rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza.
  • Taking some zinc supplements is one of the home remedy for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza. There is some evidence that zinc supplements can increase the speed of recovering from the rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza in just couple of days.
  • Gargling with warm salty water can help relieve sore throats and is a simple home remedy for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza.
  • A good home remedy for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza is to stay warm. Hotness kills germs, so it is advisable to always stay in warm, dry and airy rooms to prevent stuffiness and growth of the germs.
  • Usage of saline nasal drops is a home remedy for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza. Saline nasal drops can help to decongest the nasal system. They are safe to use and do not irritate. Experts also recommend using them for both children and adults.

Risk Factors for Rhinopharyngitis or Acute Coryza

The following factors will increase your risk of contracting the rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza:

  • Weak immune system is often a risk factor for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza. If your immune system is very high, it is possible that when you come in contact with an affected person, you will not be infected. However, if your immune system is low, your chances of contracting the disease will increase. Also, adults have strong immune systems than children, because as people grow, they build up their immune system. On the other hand, older adults of more than 65 years have lower immunity than younger adults, because they become weaker and are more susceptible to diseases since their cells are weak.
  • Change in weather condition is a possible risk factor for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza. People of all ages are at equal risk of contracting cold during cold weather conditions than in dry seasons. During winter and fall (rainy seasons), people stay indoors and close contacts increases the chances of contracting cold. This is because cold keeps the viruses alive while hot weather kills them.
  • Stress and sleeplessness is a major risk factor for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza. Stress weakens the body and as such, you become vulnerable to diseases like rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza.
  • The age of the individual is also a risk factor for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza. Children are more susceptible to rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza than adults are. This is because they play with children who are affected with rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza without knowing how to avoid themselves and keep themselves clean. Additionally, their immune systems are not yet very strong to withstand the viruses. Also, older adults are become susceptible to rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza as their cells become weaker.
  • Smoke and environmental pollutants are also risk factors for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza. Cigarette smoke, industrial smokes, toxic fumes, dusts and other pollutants cause serious infection of the respiratory organs. People who are constantly exposed to these pollutants have higher risk of contracting rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza than those who are not.
  • Preexisting health conditions can cause rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza. People with health problems like AIDS, cancer, diabetes and genetic disorders are more prone to contract rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza than those who do not have any health problems.

Complications of Rhinopharyngitis or Acute Coryza

Some complication may occur if immune system is low and if a person presently has other serious illnesses. Some of the complications generated because of rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza are:

  • Rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza may lead to acute ear infection, also known as otitis media, which is an acute ear infection. If the virus goes into the space at the back of the eardrum, the persons’ ear may become infected. This will cause pain behind the ear, rashes, or a yellowish or greenish discharge from the nostril and the child may experience a strong fever, loss of hearing and fatigue.
  • Children may also experience puffing breath/ wheezing. This is the most common complication with asthmatic children.
  • Sinusitis is a possible complication in both adults and children. The person experiences some pain at the cavities around the eyes, nose, and forehead.
  • Rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza may also lead to other complications such as pneumonia, streptococcal pharyngitis, and bronchiolitis.

When these complications occur, it is necessary to consult a doctor immediately for proper treatment for rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza.

References:

Also Read:

Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:July 17, 2023

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