Respiratory tract infection refers to a number of infectious diseases involving the respiratory tract.
Classification
Upper respiratory tract infection(URI or URTI)
- Flu
- Laryngitis
- Pharyngitis
- Sinusitis
- Tonsillitis
Lower respiratory tract infection (LRI or LRTI)
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
Causes of Respiratory tract infection
- Contact
- Sneezing or coughing
- Poor hand washing techniques
- Viruses
- Rhinovirus
- Coronavirus
- Parainfluenza virus
- Respiratory syncytial virus
- Adenovirus
- Bacteria
Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria.
Symptoms and signs
URTI
- Cough
- Headaches
- Muscle aches and pain
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Stuffed or runny nose
LRTI
- Aches and pains
- Blocked nose and sinuses
- Breathlessness
- Fever and chills
- Headaches
- Productive cough (phlegm, mucus, blood)
- Sore throatÂ
- Wheezing
- Tight feeling in the chest
Investigations
- Chest X-Ray
- Blood tests
Treatment
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
- Self-Care
- Drink plenty of fluids (to prevent dehydration )
- For infants with stuffy noses, saline nose drops used with a bulb syringe may be helpful in clearing the nasal passages.
- Ayurvedic Medicines
Lower Respiratory Tract Infection
- Self-care
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids
- Take rest and avoid strenuous activity.
- Avoid being around people who smoke, and stay away from smoke-filled environments.
- Raise the head of the bed slightly
- Ayurvedic Medication
Complications
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Lung abscess
- Pleural effusion
- Pleurisy
- Pleuritic pain
- Septicaemia or Bacteraemia
Prevention
- Wash hands regularly and thoroughly, particularly after touching the nose or mouth, and before handling food.
- Sneezing and coughing into tissues.
- Do not share cups or kitchen utensils with others
- Vaccines are available for pneumonia and flu
- Quit smoking