Postnasal Syndrome: Symptoms and Treatment

Often after a respiratory infection, the recovery of the body is extremely slow. In the throat, slime continues to flow down its back wall, which causes a lot of discomfort. The presented manifestation is called the syndrome of postnasal swelling. How to deal with this problem? What causes it? We will try to answer these and other questions further in the material.

Features of the disease

Postnazalny syndrome is a complication after a respiratory illness associated with inflammation of the respiratory tract. Its development leads not only to a plentiful separation of mucus, but also to the formation of a regular cough.

During the day, sputum is involuntary coughing up and swallowing. At night, excessive secretion of fluids in the area of the nasopharynx causes congestion of mucus. Thus, in the morning, a person who suffers from postnatal syndrome begins to cough badly. In the most neglected cases, mucus accumulations are so abundant that it leads to the appearance of vomiting.

The causes of postnasal syndrome

In the nasopharynx cavity there is a whole network of glands that produce mucus, necessary for slowing down the vital processes of pathological microorganisms. In addition, this secret moistens the nasal membranes, and also helps to clean the nasal cavity from contamination.

For what reasons can postnasal syndrome develop? This complication often occurs against a background of chronic sinusitis or an allergic rhinitis. Other, less common reasons for the formation of the syndrome include:

• Bacterial lesions of the nasopharynx;
• Growth of adenoids;
• The development of anomalies in the structure of the upper respiratory tract;
• All kinds of inflammation of the tissues of the nasopharynx.

In most cases, the syndrome of postnosal edema appears as a result of inadequate treatment of respiratory diseases. Unwillingness to pay attention to chronic manifestations of past illnesses leads to the accumulation of mucus in the nasopharynx.

Postnasal syndrome: symptoms

Pathology has the following manifestations:

• The sensation of a foreign body - the so-called "tangle" in the nasopharynx;
• Adherence of thick mucus in the region of the posterior pharyngeal wall, its gradual draining into the throat;
• Shortness of breath in the morning, itching, burning, general discomfort in the throat;
• Numerous arbitrary coughs throughout the day with separation of sputum;
• Coughing attacks during sleep;
• Expectoration of large clots of mucus in the morning;
• Attacks of nausea and vomiting (in children);
• Change voice timbre;
• Difficulty breathing through the nose.

In some cases, postnasal syndrome leads only to the occurrence of a periodic cough. At the same time there are no wheezing in the lungs while listening to the doctor, and breathing remains calm. Slime, constantly flowing down the throat, irritates tissues, creates a favorable environment for the life of pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, a person's reluctance to pay attention to the above symptoms for a long time can cause chronic pharyngitis.

Diagnostics

Apparently, there is no single characteristic symptom that would allow us to identify postnatal syndrome. Treatment and diagnosis of the disease for this reason is carried out in several separate methods. At the first suspicions of such complication doctors often refer the patient to:

• X-ray of the paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx;
• Collection of bacterial sowing;
• Computed tomography;
• Allergy testing.

The choice of this or that diagnostic method is performed by the doctor individually in relation to each patient. As a rule, the final conclusion about the development of postnatal syndrome is borne after passing the majority of the above procedures.

Postnasal Sinus Syndrome: Treatment in Adults

In many cases, the syndrome in adults is formed against the background of old diseases. However, often the problem develops in the presence of allergies. In the latter case, to slow the production of mucus, reduce its amount in the nasopharynx, patients are prescribed:

• Antihistamines;
• Sprays for the nose, which contain anti-allergic substances;
• Nasal glucocorticosteroids.

In situations where the postnatal syndrome is caused by infectious pathologies in the nasopharynx, doctors prescribe courses of reception of immunomodulators of local spectrum of action, antibiotics, and also often wash the nose with antiseptics, saline solutions.

In adults with the presence of pathologies in the structure of the upper respiratory tract, the mucus swelling syndrome sometimes requires surgical intervention. In such cases, doctors resort to gaymoroterapii, correction of nasal septum, polypotomy, coagulation of nasal concha. These operations are aimed at restoring the normal drainage of the sinuses of the nose, which makes it possible to eliminate postnasal fluid stains.

Treatment in children

Usually, postnasal syndrome occurs in children against a background of acute respiratory viral infections, or in the formation of adenoids in the nasopharynx. When all infectious factors are excluded by the doctors, the problem of mucus leakage can be eliminated by prescribing a course of nasal spraying with sprays containing corticosteroids or taking anti-edema drugs. As an additional therapy, rinses of the nasopharynx, inhalation are applied.

Traditional methods of treatment

With a mild form of postnatal syndrome, therapy with folk medicine is allowed. Perhaps the latter are not as effective in remedying the problem as medications. However, they certainly will have a positive effect and will not cause harm to health.

Consider several proven means of swelling of mucus in the nasopharynx:

1. In a deep container with boiling water, dissolve a few tablespoons of propolis tincture. Add the oil of lavender and rosemary. Daily breathe over steam for 10 minutes.
2. Brew tea on the basis of any available herbs, be it mother-and-stepmother, St. John's wort or lime-tree color. Add a pinch of ground ginger, a teaspoon of honey and turmeric. Eat daily a glass of broth, slowly sipping hot liquid in small sips.
3. In a small mug of warm water, add a teaspoon of lemon and honey juice. To drink in small sips at occurrence of congestions of mucus in a nasopharynx.

Prevention

In the case of respiratory diseases, in order to avoid the formation of the syndrome of postnasal swelling of mucus, it is recommended:

• Often perform wet cleaning in the house, use humidifiers;
• To avoid labor in production;
• Regularly walk in the open air;
• Strengthen general immunity;
• Without delay, consult a doctor if respiratory illness occurs to obtain qualified care, which will avoid complications.

Finally

Apparently, the development of postnatal syndrome can lead to a number of discomfortable sensations. To avoid unnecessary suffering, it is recommended to treat respiratory diseases in a timely manner, if necessary, to eliminate the pathology of the nasopharynx by operative route. People prone to respiratory diseases should pay attention to prevention.