Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

Upper respiratory tract infections disturb the airways namely in the ears and throat. The reason could be anything from bacteria to virus or other microorganism. Generally colds, flues and bronchitis caused by infections are considered mild and impermanent, but (although seldom) they can cause severe problems in the ears or sinuses, and might even lead to pneumonia.

Common Cold

It is the most recurring infection of URT, there are hundreds of viruses that can cause cold and the most frequent of those is the "Rhinovirus", it 's the most infectious virus in human beings. Symptoms of a normal cold ranges from nasal congestion to fever, and mostly are of mild nature. It usually starts with a mild throat irritation and rapidly develops into well-known symptoms of sneezing, coughing, head and muscle aches, and slight fever. Its severe ness usually decreases after one or two days and gradually the symptoms go back to normal after five days. Initially nasal discharges are runny and thin, than change into yellow and greenish as it slow down and at times can keep running more than two weeks.

This from of URTI is hindering doctors and patients alike, as medically there is still no safe and permanent treatment for this problem. The medicine given to patients only treat the symptoms, making the disease bearable till it goes away.

Influenza

Usually referred as Flu, is a viral infection, the frequent symptoms are, headaches, muscle ache ness, weakness and high fever. Influenza can also initiate a dry and intense cough, accompanied with sore throat and nasal discharge.

Strep Throat

A bacteria "Streptococcal" is said to induce this infection, mostly in the winter to spring season, it usually begins without any cough or nasal emissions. It brings upon a severe irritatingly sore throat with fever, which makes it hard to swallow anything, symptoms might also be headaches, vomiting and abdominal pain. Diagnosis of strep throat is not easy as only half of the patients show the symptoms.

Bronchitis

It's an infection of airways (a tube formed transitional way that carries the in-breathe air to lungs) it results in inflamed airways by stuffing it with mucus, it also causes a phlegmatic cough. Bronchitis is an almost viral disease, and rarely affected by other microorganisms. In most of the patients cough is only persistent only for a week or so, but in some cases it can last up to a month.

Patients & Causes

Everyone occasionally develop upper respiratory infections, but youngsters and old people at a higher risk of severities. Strep throat is more frequent in children five to 12 years, due to undeveloped immune system Young ones are succumb to colds often, but it never causes any serious problems. Regularity of colds decreases with the age. As elders also have much weaken immunity so they are at more risk for serious respiratory infections.

There are factual reports that stress can greatly induce cold and people under stress more often suffer from infections than others out counting their lifestyle or health habbits for example Exercise (in a longer run) is said to support the immune system by adding to condition of health, some highly trained athletes complained to develop cold mostly after a strenuous exercise routine, the reason could be some immune system factors setting inflammation in the airways.

Cigarette smoke, toxic emission of industrial smoke and myriad other pollutants can also injure the airways by damaging Cilia. On the other hand, the cold that most of the people develop during the winter is more caused by the concentration of Rhinovirus, rather than dry weather.

People suffering from AIDS and other medical conditions like Cancer compromising their immune system are highly intolerant to serious infections. People with diabetes are at higher risk for flu. particular genetic disorders predispose people with these problems to respiratory infections.

Treatments

Most of the times URTI do not need any medication, more over, un-required use of antibiotics 's attracted a lot of attention during these times as physicians are finding sings of bacteria more resistant to medicine, due to the weaken immune systems caused by unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Positively, now antibiotics are being developed to help and prevent the increasing problem of bacterial resistance. Creating antibiotics that have the ability to either self-destruct or restore themselves is a unique approach.

The general symptoms of Colds can be relieved by following methods;

Tylenol (especially for under 18) or aspirin is useful to treat aches and weakness, and it should be consumed along with food.

Afrin or Neosynephrine nasal sprays, more reliably the long-acting variety for nasal discharge, but it can leaves side effects like excessive dryness, it should not be used for more than a week.

Nasal sprays are also used to relieve the discharge and also head congestion, but other medications should be opted in case of prolonged symptoms.