URI
Do you know how helpless you feel if you have a full cup of coffee in your hand and you start to sneeze? Jean Kerr
image by: UAB "Rezus.lt"
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Our definitive guide to cold and flu
So you’ve come down with a nasty bug that’s been making the rounds. The good news? You probably don’t need to go into the doctor’s office. The bad news? You still feel awful.
If you think you have an upper respiratory infection (URI) — which includes the common cold, sinus infections, chest colds (bronchitis), and the flu (caused by the influenza virus) — there’s a lot you can do at home to feel better faster. You’ll have infections like these many times throughout your life, so learning what helps the most (and the least) is worth your time.
What to Expect with an Upper Respiratory Infection
More than 90 percent of upper respiratory infections are…
Resources
Do I have a cold or the flu?
When the sneezes start, though, they can set off a moment of panic—is this just an average cold-weather cold, or the more serious flu? One of the biggest differences between the two viral infections is how fast the sickness sets in...
Pediatric Upper Respiratory Infection
The normal immune response to a virus will produce an increase in mucus production (rhinorrhea), swelling of the nasal mucosa (congestion), sneezing (due to irritation of the nose), and cough (due to increased mucus dripping down the throat). Antibiotics are ineffective and not indicated to treat URI. Antibiotic overuse in children has become a common problem and bacterial antibiotic resistance is increasing.
Antibiotic Use in Acute Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
Antibiotics should not be considered in patients with the common cold or laryngitis.
Can Your Toothbrush Make You Sick?
Not from a cold you already had.
How to treat your cold at home
Adults average three colds per year, six if we smoke. Here's how to make this plague almost tolerable.
Management of upper respiratory tract infections in children
Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) occurs commonly in both children and adults and is a major cause of mild morbidity. It has a high cost to society, being responsible for absenteeism from school and work and unnecessary medical care, and is occasionally associated with serious sequelae.
Sniffles, sneezing and cough? How to tell if it’s a simple allergy rather than The Virus
We’re told to stay home if we feel unwell during the COVID-19 pandemic. But what if your sniffles, sore throat or cough aren’t infectious? What if they’re caused by hayfever or another allergic reaction? You may be doing a lot more isolating than you need to. Although it can sometimes be challenging, there are ways to tell apart respiratory symptoms caused by a virus and those caused by an allergy.
Viral Upper Respiratory Infection
Although colds are often considered a nuisance rather than a major public health threat, even rhinovirus, the least pathogenic of the common cold viruses, may cause death among elderly and immunocompromised individuals.
Our definitive guide to cold and flu
So you’ve come down with a nasty bug that’s been making the rounds. The good news? You probably don’t need to go into the doctor’s office. The bad news? You still feel awful.
eMedicineHealth
It is often difficult to know the difference between an acute upper respiratory infection and influenza (seasonal or H1N1 flu). However, influenza tends to cause symptoms and complaints that involve the entire body, including fever, chills, muscle aches and pains, and general malaise or feeling poorly. Colds tend not to have such broad body system involvement.
MedicineNet
Upper respiratory infections are one of the most frequent causes of doctors visits with varying symptoms ranging from runny nose, sore throat, cough, to breathing difficulty, and lethargy. In the United States, upper respiratory infections are the most common illness leading to missing school or work.
Patient
The new advice is that parents and carers should no longer use over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines in children under 6. There is no evidence that they work and can cause side effects, such as allergic reactions, effects on sleep or hallucinations.
ScienceDirect
Upper respiratory tract infection (URI), or ‘common cold’, is the most frequent illness in humans. The main symptoms of URI are nasal stuffiness and discharge, sneezing, sore throat, and cough.
StatPearls
Common cold continues to be a large burden on society, economically and socially. The most common virus is rhinovirus. Other viruses include the influenza virus, adenovirus, enterovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus. Bacteria may cause roughly 15% of sudden onset pharyngitis presentations. The most common is S. pyogenes, a Group A streptococcus.
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