catarrhal

Catarrhal is an adjective used in medicine to describe inflammation of mucous membranes with increased, typically watery or mucoid discharge. It is generally used to characterize the early, non-purulent phase of mucosal inflammation affecting sites such as the nasal passages, throat, sinuses, eyes, or gastrointestinal tract. It contrasts with purulent catarrh, in which the discharge is thick and pus-laden. The term helps describe signs without specifying a final diagnosis.

Common examples include catarrhal rhinitis (nasal inflammation with runny nose and congestion), catarrhal conjunctivitis (eye discharge and irritation), catarrhal otitis media (middle ear inflammation with mucous discharge), and catarrhal gastritis or enteritis (stomach or intestinal mucous membrane inflammation with mucus). The underlying causes are often viral upper respiratory infections, allergies, irritants, or early bacterial infections that may progress to purulent inflammation if not resolved. Diagnosis is clinical; management focuses on treating symptoms and the underlying cause, e.g., humidification, saline irrigation, analgesics, and addressing infection risk.

Etymology: Catarrhal derives from catarrh, from Greek katarrhē meaning "a running down," referring to mucosal discharge. The term is widely used in human medicine and in veterinary medicine to describe similar mucous membrane inflammation.