ACUTE NASAL CATARRH
This is also called coryza, cold in the head and acute rhinopharyngitis. It is a very common condition in infants and small children and one that is readily recognized and easily handled chiropractically. It is very essential that we be able to distinguish between a simple acute nasal catarrh and the coryza which accompanies such conditions as measles, influenza, and nasal diphtheria. If in these conditions there is profuse discharge tinged with blood for two or three weeks, nasal diphtheria should be suspected, even though there are no other very serious symptoms. With a very young infant a persistent acute nasal catarrh may indicate syphilis. In such a case, a careful watch should be kept for more positive symptoms.
Symptoms
The onset may be more or less sudden with sneezing and a slight fever. There is a profuse discharge from the nose in severe cases which at first is seromucous and later becomes mucopurulent. The mucous membrane is red and swollen. The equation for the mucous membrane is calorific plus and N.C.R. for the mucopurulent discharge. In severe cases there may be a temperature of 103° F. to 105° F. with marked constitutional disturbances. In the mild cases the symptoms will be less severe and many times very transient.
Results are obtained very quickly with acute nasal catarrh or coryza and when the adjustment is given at the beginning of the symptoms there will be no complications. However, if the condition is allowed to run until it has gained momentum, longer time will be required for results and there may be distressing complications. If the condition is not corrected at once the throat may become involved and even the bronchi, which may develop into bronchopneumonia. Retropharyngeal abscesses may also develop. Nasal catarrh may continue until it becomes chronic.
Equation
Primarily the equation in nasal catarrh is M-. In the capillaries of the mucous membrane lining the nasal passages this results in hyperemia of the blood vessels and exudation. This results in C+ in the mucous membrane. The exudation which at first is a colorless fluid soon becomes mucopurulent from the C+ so the equation for the exudation becomes N.C.R.
Family
The family for the C+ condition in the mucous membrane is fever family, while the N.C.R. condition is in the degenerations family. The products of the degeneration may produce symptoms in the poison family.