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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?
Viruses that cause respiratory infections are affected by environmental conditions like relative humidity and temperature. Temperate climate winters have lower relative humidity, which is known to increase the transmission of influenza. [29] Of the viruses that cause respiratory infections in humans, most have seasonal variation in prevalence.
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.
Strep throat is a common bacterial infection in children. [2] It is the cause of 15–40% of sore throats among children [7] [13] and 5–15% among adults. [8] Cases are more common in late winter and early spring. [13] Potential complications include rheumatic fever and peritonsillar abscess. [1] [2]
"At the very beginning whooping cough can be difficult to tell apart from other respiratory infections. The way to tell is because the convalescent phase of whooping cough can last upwards of ...