In a controlled clinical study of 40 patients, aged 18 to 65, suffering from acute inflammatory pathology of the upper respiratory tract or from a chronic form flaring into acute crisis, without any general symptoms of infection, were assigned at random to treatment with nimesulide in tablet form (100 mg x 2/day), or with phenylprenazone in capsules (200 mg x 2/day) for a period of seven days. In both groups a clinically significant reduction of the symptoms was obtained (congestion and edema of the pharyngeal mucosa, cough) as well as an improvement in the values of conductance and MCTt. Epigastralgy was evidenced in three subjects treated with nimesulide and in four treated with phenylprenazone. No significant variations of the laboratory parameters were found in either treatment group.