Coryza
Summary
Coryza is acute inflammation of the nasal mucosa producing profuse nasal discharge and congestion, in plain terms a runny, stuffy nose. It is one of the three Cs of the measles prodrome alongside cough and conjunctivitis.
Detail
Coryza is a sign rather than a diagnosis and accompanies most viral upper respiratory infections, including rhinovirus, the commonest cause of the common cold, as well as coronaviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, adenovirus, and measles. In allergic rhinitis the same clinical picture occurs with sneezing, itching, and clear discharge, mediated by IgE and mast cell degranulation, and is often accompanied by pale boggy turbinates and allergic shiners. In the context of a febrile child with a rash the presence of coryza is a useful discriminator, since measles produces prominent coryza while rubella and roseola do not. Congenital syphilis produces a distinctive persistent, often blood-tinged 'snuffles' in the neonate, which is highly infectious. Symptomatic treatment only is indicated for viral coryza; antibiotics have no role.
Sources
- Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics
- First Aid for the USMLE Step 1
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