Coryza

Coryza is a word describing the symptoms of a head cold.^[1] It describes the inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the nasal cavity which usually gives rise to the symptoms of nasal congestion and loss of smell, among other symptoms. Coryza may not always have an infectious or allergenic etiology and can be due to something as innocuous as a cold wind, spicy food or tender points in the muscles of the neck such as the sternocleidomastoid. It is also a symptom of narcotic withdrawal. Coryza is classically used in association with the "four Cs" of measles infection: cough, conjunctivitis, Koplik's spots, and coryza.^[2]

Causes

• Common cold
• sinusitis
• vasomotor rhinitis
• measles
• allergies

Etymology

This word may have its roots in the Greek Koryza, which is likely to be compounded from "kara" and "zeein". which are the noun for head and the verb, to boil. Coryza would therefore be a boiling over of the head. According to another source, coryza was an ancient Greek word denoting a fool. According to physician Andrew Wylie, "we use the term for a cold in the head, but the two are really synonymous. The ancient Romans advised their patients to clean their nostrils and thereby sharpen their wits."^[3]

See also

• Rhinitis - another word for this set of symptoms
• Feline coryza

Treatment

Treatment of coryza depends on etiology. Coryza from any allergic causes usually gets relieved if contact with the allergen (dust, pollen, cold wind,etc) is avoided. Nasal sprays, antihistamines, decongestants are beneficial.But if it is due to any virus it usually take 3-7 days to improve.Symptomatic treatment can be obtained from saline nasal irrigation, nasal sprays, decongestants. But antihistamines are of little value.If coryza is due to bacterial or fungal infections(rarely) then appropriate antimicrobial therapy may be required in addition to the symptomatic treatment.

References

1. ^ The Faber Pocket Medical Dictionary. Faber and Faber. London & Boston, "first published" 1978.
2. ^ Kempe,C. H. Current Pediatric Diagnosis & Treatment. Appleton & Lange, 1987.
3. ^ Wylie, A, (1927). "Rhinology and laryngology in literature and Folk-Lore.". The Journal of Laryngology & Otology 42 (2): 81–87. doi:10.1017/S0022215100029959. 

Notes on Infectious Coryza

This medical symptom article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Inflammations Symptom stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР? Lightning MultiCom Joint Contracts Tribunal Look at other dictionaries: coryza — [ kɔriza ] n. m. • corysa 1655; corise v. 1370; gr. koruza « écoulement nasal » ♦ Méd. Inflammation de la muqueuse des fosses nasales (rhume de cerveau). ● coryza nom masculin (bas latin coryza, du grec korudza) Rhinite aiguë, d origine… …   Encyclopédie Universelle Coryza — Co*ry za (k? r? z?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. ko ryza catarh.] (Med.) Nasal catarrh. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English Coryza — (Med.), katarrhalische Entzündung der Nasenschleimhaut, der Schnupfen …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon Coryza — Coryza, der Schnupfen …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon Coryza — Coryza, in der Heilkunde die katarrhalische Entzündung der Nasenschleimhaut …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon Coryza — vgl. Koryza …   Das Wörterbuch medizinischer Fachausdrücke coryza — 1630s, from medical Latin, from Gk. koryza running at the nose …   Etymology dictionary coryza — [kə rī′zə] n. [ModL < LL < Gr koryza, catarrh] a cold in the head; acute nasal congestion …   English World dictionary Coryza — Chaton atteint du coryza bactérien depuis trois jours Le coryza est un syndrome bénin chez l homme qui se traduit par un écoulement nasal et des éternuements répétés et parfois une conjonctivite. On l’appelle aussi « rhume de… …   Wikipédia en Français coryza — (ko ri za) s. m. 1°   Terme de médecine. Inflammation catarrhale de la membrane muqueuse des fosses nasales, dite vulgairement rhume de cerveau. 2°   Terme de vétérinaire. Coryza dans l espèce chevaline.    Coryza des bêtes bovines. Cette maladie …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”