If there is one sickness that has kept away man from the workplace in the history, then it has to be the upper respiratory tract illnesses. Come winter this tract which includes the nose, pharynx, voice box and the sinuses is the most affected. No wonder every other child is prone to this issue and there is increased absenteeism at school trying to cope with the infection.
This tract helps the air we breathe reach the trachea and then into the lungs for a normal respiration to take place. Depending on the part of the tract that is affected, it is called as rhinitis (nasal lining), sinusitis (infection of the sinuses), tonsillitis (tonsils are affected), nasopharyngitis or in other words, common cold. There are varying symptoms of the upper respiratory tract that insist the patient to reach the Doctor, that is:
• Sneezing
• Nasal discharge
• Blocked nose
• Mucus falling from the nose into the throat
• Irritaiton of the throat
• Pain in the throat
• Cough
• Opening of mouth while breathing as the nose is congested
It is usually the cold of the winter that insists the mucus lining of the nose to develop a thin, watery discharge or it could be the viruses lurking in the air that get strengthened as the immunity takes a little dip during the phase and could last for a few days and wane away. But if the patient complains of bodyache, listlessness, malaise, fever which ensue, it is likely the patient has developed a bacterial infection which leads to production of toxins and that is when the suffering increases and the need to break from work is seen. The patient could complain of:
• headache
• shortness of breath
• pain in the area of the sinuses around the nose
• foul breath
• sense of smell being reduced
• itching and watering of the eye
• nausea and vomiting
• bodyache and fever
To relieve the congestion would be primary and that is best done by taking hot steam as the moist, warm air traversing through the nasal passages loosens the mucus and becomes easier to expel. Cleared mucus will also not become a fodder for the bacteria to multiply. Drinking hot or warm beverages and soups will help further. Avoiding dry, cold air would prevent further episodes. Since it is contagious, it is better for the person suffering to use tissues while coughing or sneezing etc. so that others don’t fall prey to the same.
Homeopathic medicine has good remedies that can clear the nasal irritation and discharge with remedies like Aconite, Natrum mur and throat irritation with remedies like Hepar sulph, Sinuses with Kali bich and Ammonium carb and cough with Spongia and Rumex. Bryonia and Rhus tox will stave away fever efficiently and for seeing through winter safely, Homeopathy is the best bet.
