Most nose and throat ailments eventually clear up by themselves, so although antibiotics are sometimes given to speed recovery from a bacterial infection, most doctors recommend just rest and simple home remedies such as inhalants, camphor oil and nasal sprays.
Serious or continual problems, however, require other medical treatment. For recurrent tonsillitis or swollen adenoids and nasal polyps, surgery may be the answer.

ADENOIDS
The body, like an exclusive club, has a team of 'bouncers' whose job it is to keep out undesirables. One of the most effective of these is the pharyngeal tonsil, a small pad of tissue at the back of the nose. Just as a bouncer can get the worst of a tussle, so the tonsil can suffer in its battle against infections or allergy. It can become enlarged or inflamed - rather like the palatine tonsils in an attack of tonsillitis. When an infection persists, or the pharyngeal tonsil has to deal with repeated infections, it can become chronically enlarged, causing breathing problems. This is commonly called 'adenoids'.

CATARRH AND BLOCKED UP NOSE
For many problems such as nasal congestion and catarrh, or recurrent throat infections, you may be advised to avoid dairy produce and sugars and eat more fresh fruit and vegetables. Vitamin C can be helpful - a gram a day for a short period and then half the amount in the long term - for chronic catarrh or infection.