Acute upper respiratory tract infection

Acute upper respiratory tract infection is a general term, which includes inflammation of the nasal cavity and throat. There are many causes of acute upper respiratory tract infection. If you want treatment, you still need to go to a regular hospital to find out the cause of your disease first, and then prescribe the right medicine according to the cause. However, in most cases, acute upper respiratory tract infection is caused by viruses.

If a person has a weak constitution and his resistance is not particularly good, he will be very likely to be infected with a virus if the weather changes frequently. In addition, if he is too tired, he will also suffer from an acute upper respiratory tract infection.

70% to 80% of acute upper respiratory tract infections are caused by viruses. Including rhinovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus, influenza and parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, echovirus, coxsackievirus, etc. Another 20% to 30% of upper respiratory tract infections are caused by bacteria. Bacterial infection can be direct infection or secondary to viral infection. Hemolytic streptococci are the most common, followed by Haemophilus influenzae, pneumococci, Staphylococci, etc., and occasionally Gram-negative bacteria.

Acute upper respiratory tract infection has an acute onset and the incubation period ranges from 1 to 3 days, which varies with the virus. It is shorter for enterovirus and longer for adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, etc. The main symptoms are nasal symptoms, such as sneezing, nasal congestion, and clear nasal discharge. It may also present as coughing, dry throat, itchy or burning throat, and even postnasal drip. Symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, and watery nasal discharge may occur at the same time or several hours after the onset of the disease. After 2 to 3 days, the nasal discharge becomes thicker, often accompanied by sore throat, tearing, loss of taste, difficulty breathing, hoarseness, etc.

Because the symptoms of acute upper respiratory tract infection are very strong, the patient's work and life will be greatly affected during the illness. Therefore, the patient needs to go to the hospital for treatment as soon as the disease is discovered, and keep warm during the treatment period.