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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 .
Other symptoms may include a runny nose, cough, headache, difficulty swallowing, swollen lymph nodes, and a hoarse voice. [1] [6] Symptoms usually last 3–5 days, but can be longer depending on cause. [2] [3] Complications can include sinusitis and acute otitis media. [2] Pharyngitis is a type of upper respiratory tract infection. [7]
Laryngitis is categorized as acute if it lasts less than 3 weeks and chronic if symptoms last more than 3 weeks. [1] Acute cases usually occur as part of a viral upper respiratory tract infection, [1] other infections, and trauma such as from coughing or other causes. [1]
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.
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus infection, is a common illness that usually presents as a mild cold. Almost everyone has been infected with it by age 2, according to the CDC.
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.
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.
Two of the most overlooked symptoms of whooping cough are a runny nose and congestion. That's one of the things that makes it so tricky to catch early. "Symptoms may mirror that of the common cold.