What are the upper and lower respiratory tract infections?

The infections of the respiratory tract are divided into two groups:

What are the causes of respiratory infections?

The main causes of respiratory diseases are viruses, for instance, flu virus, parainfluenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), enteroviruses, coronaviruses, and some strains of adenovirus. On their basis, bacterial infections can develop. In most cases, bacterial infection develops if the symptoms are present for more than a week. Before that, the use of antibacterial medicines, i.e. antibiotics is useless and can be even dangerous.

The infections of the respiratory tract spread by contact with the nasal or oral discharges from the ill person. The particles are present in the breathed out air, especially, when a person sneezes, coughs, or blow the nose.

It is observed that the nasal or airway discharges from kids sick with a viral infection contain more viral particles than the discharges of adults. This combined with the poorer hygiene in children is the reason for the more likely spread of viruses by kids. The risk is even higher when many kids are gathered together, for instance, at kindergarten and school.

Contrary to popular belief, other factors, such as hypothermia, getting wet or tired, do not cause a cold and do not increase the child's susceptibility to infection.

Symptoms of respiratory infections

The symptoms can vary based on the virus, age of a person, chronic diseases, and vaccination.

When viruses penetrate into the cells of the airways, they cause inflammation and the formation of mucus. This causes nasal congestion and/or discharges, sore throat, sneezing, and coughing.

Other symptoms are:

- Malaise

- Fever

- Chills

- Sinusitis (pressure in the nasal axils located on both sides of the nose);

- Hoarseness

- Headache

- Muscle pain

- Pain in the ear or ears

- Redness of the eyes

There are also dangerous symptoms that require immediate medical attention:

- Worsening of the general condition;

- Shortness of breath;

- Confusion;

- Inability of sufficient hydration due to constant vomiting;

- Symptoms of dehydration (for example, dizziness while standing up or rare urination).

In the majority of people with normal immune system function (i.e. with no autoimmune diseases, HIV or AIDS, not using immune-suppressing medicines), respiratory infections are present in mild to moderate form, and hospitalization is not needed.

The duration of a viral infection usually is from 5 to 10 days but can be up to three weeks depending on the general health condition and the type of virus. In some cases, doctors can identify that the similar symptoms are caused not by the virus but a bacterial infection or bacterial complication that requires antibiotics use. This is why it is important to go to a doctor if you have the symptoms of respiratory infection for more than 5 days.

Viral infections can cause the common cold, sinusitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, conjunctivitis, otitis, and croup (laryngotracheobronchitis), bronchitis, and pneumonia.

Common respiratory viruses are the main cause of bronchitis in children, pneumonia, exacerbations of asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The same diseases that are easily passed by adults with normal immunity can cause complications in children, elderly people, and people with a compromised immune system.

How are respiratory tract diseases diagnosed?

A doctor can diagnose a respiratory tract infection by listening to the patient’s complaints. It is in general not needed to go to a doctor in the occurrence of first symptoms. But a doctor’s attention is needed in case of:

- High body temperature for more than 3 days;

- Troubled breathing;

- Wheezing;

- Worsening of the condition;

- Confusion;

- Inability of sufficient hydration due to constant vomiting;

- Symptoms of dehydration (for example, dizziness while standing up or rare urination).

A doctor needs to listen to the airways and appoint an x-ray to identify whether the lower respiratory tract is affected and what it is – pneumonia or bronchitis. A doctor can also inspect the sinuses, throat, and ears to confirm or disprove bacterial complications.

The possible complications are:

- Bacterial rhinitis;

- Sinusitis;

- Otitis;

- Pneumonia;

- Bronchitis;

- Tracheitis;

- Tonsillitis;

- Meningitis;

- Neuritis;

- Sciatica.

Treatment of respiratory infections

There are no antiviral medicines for common cold so the treatment is aimed at the relief of symptoms. For some forms of influenza, there are antiviral medicines that can be used, for instance:

- Neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir, zanamivir, etc.);

- Interferons (Alpharon, Grippferon, Ingaron, Viferon, etc.);

- Interferon inducers (Cycloferon, Tiloron, Kagocel, etc.);

- Umifenovir (Arbidol);

- Ingavirin;

- Anaferon, Ergoferon.

In most cases, the use of antivirals isn’t required for the therapy. The main therapeutic measures include:

- Using antipyretics, i.e. medicines for fever reduction such as Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, and others.

- Drinking plenty of fluids.

- Using nasal sprays for facilitated breathing;

- Using antihistamines, decongestants, cough, and expectorant drugs.

In bacterial complications of respiratory tract infections, various antibiotics are used. The most modern quick-acting and short-treatment-course medication is Zithromax or a generic form that can be found by the name Azithromycin.

How to prevent respiratory tract infections?

- Observe good hygiene, i.e. wash your hands thoroughly with soap and don’t touch your face before you wash your hands;

- Get vaccinated for flu before flu season;

- During flu season, try avoiding crowded places, avoid close contact with infected people, and wash hands more often.

- Keep your workplace and gadgets clean, use antiseptics suitable for their surfaces regularly. It is believed that vitamin C can help to prevent respiratory diseases but it not quite so. However, it can help to ease the symptoms and reduce the time of symptoms presence especially in people who engage in intense physical loads.

Other general tips are the same as for the prevention of other diseases, they include physical exercising, sleep for 8 hours, eating clean and healthy food, do not use any drugs without consulting a doctor, and treating all diseases timely.