Show common colds may cause infections in sinuses and parts of respiratory tract the common cold can cause infection in the sinuses other parts of the respiratory tract and ears sidney N parkinson MD oakland calif says in the journal of the american medical association nasal congestion during a cold interferes with circulation about the openings of the sinuses this increases swelling and congestion within the sinuses and permits accumulation of which the hair like projections in the respiratory tract are unable to remove this complication is unfavorable to tissue defense the purpose of local treatment during acute infection is ventilation in order to improve drainage the author says shrinkage of the nasal mucous membranes with drugs opens the air passages free drainage then takes place it if in the process of ventilation the hairlike hairline hair like drainage mechanism has not been damaged this is why the selection of a physiologic drug is so important ephedrine in lockes solution or its equivalent constitutes an efficient harmless agent for shrinkage the drug best reaches the membranes of the air passages with the patient lying on his side with his head bent downward exactly sidewise using the shoulder as a fulcrum after from three to five minutes the head is rotated to face down to permit the nasal contents to escape from the nostrils the head low posture permits an all important structures within the nose to come in contact with the medication and obviates any injury |