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An upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) is an illness caused by an acute infection, which involves the upper respiratory tract, including the nose, sinuses, pharynx, larynx or trachea. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] This commonly includes nasal obstruction, sore throat, tonsillitis , pharyngitis , laryngitis , sinusitis , otitis media , and the common cold .
Despite general symptoms and problems with the upper respiratory tract (such as high fever, headache, a dry irritating cough followed later by a productive cough with radiographs showing consolidation), there are in general few physical signs. The patient looks better than the symptoms suggest.
One of the most common causes is Staphylococcus aureus and often follows a recent viral upper respiratory infection. Bacterial tracheitis is a rare complication of influenza infection. [ 4 ] It is the most serious in young children, possibly because of the relatively small size of the trachea that gets easily blocked by swelling.
The flu usually leads to a dry cough, and a cold tends to cause a slight cough. However, you can have any of the four conditions without cough. How do RSV, COVID, cold, and flu symptoms differ?
Typical infections of the upper respiratory tract include tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, otitis media, certain influenza types, and the common cold. [3] Symptoms of URIs can include cough , sore throat , runny nose , nasal congestion , headache , low-grade fever , facial pressure, and sneezing .
Respiratory illnesses, allergies, and the early stages of sepsis may also cause chills, Cohan says. But there's always one more thing to consider with chills—a fever could still be on the horizon.
Pneumonia frequently starts as an upper respiratory tract infection that moves into the lower respiratory tract. [55] It is a type of pneumonitis (lung inflammation). [ 56 ] The normal flora of the upper airway give protection by competing with pathogens for nutrients.
A bacterium called Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes two types of respiratory tract infections: the more common chest cold, tracheobronchitis, and the less common lung infection, walking pneumonia.