Attacked by winter viruses, our organism reacts by putting forward defensive strategies to trap pathogens and eliminate them – explains Dr. Luca Malvezzi, specialist in Otorhinolaryngology at the Humanitas Clinical Institute. The increased production of nasal mucus, for example, is used to trap, transport and eliminate viruses responsible for viral rhinosinusitis, or the common cold, to pre-empt the self cleansing and sanitation of the high and low airways, which usually happens within 5-7 days, thus solving the problem. Fever is also one of the body’s strategies for destroying more than 200 viruses that die as body temperature increases. However, these strategies are not always effective: it may happen that our defense apparatus has not been able to defeat the infection immediately, or because it cannot help effectively. In this case, if the mucus is limpid and not very dense, when the secretions become more viscous or yellow-green, the sensation of a congested nose worsens, and pain or a sense of weight can appear on the bones of the face, the common cold becomes bacterial rhinosinusitis. In this case, it is best to consult an otorhinolaryngologist in order to avoid lung complications in the most at risk subjects such as children and elderly people, and asthmatics. Moreover, the specialist may recommend to start appropriate therapy with antibiotics and cortisone, promoting nasal cleansing with saline solution.
