What is Upper Respiratory Infection?
Upper respiratory infection is also known as the common cold.
Symptoms
- runny nose
- nasal congestion
- sneezing
- sore throat
- cough
- headache
Treatment
Rest and plenty of fluids. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recommended against using cough suppressants in many situations. Antibiotics should not be used to treat a common cold, as they will not help and may make the situation worse. Thick yellow or green nasal discharge is not a reason for antibiotics, unless it doesn't get better within 10 to 14 days. In this case, it may be sinusitis. New antiviral drugs could make runny noses completely clear up a day sooner than usual (and begin to ease the symptoms within a day). It’s unclear whether the benefits of these drugs outweigh the risks. Chicken soup has been used for treating common colds at least since the 12th century. It may really help. The heat, fluid, and salt may help you fight the infection.
Prognosis
Symptoms usually go away in 7 to 10 days, but complications include bronchitis, ear infection, pneumonia, sinusitis and worsening asthma.
Prevention
To reduce risk of infection:
- Wash hands frequently
- Use instant hand sanitizers
- Disinfect commonly touched surfaces
- Use paper towels instead of shared cloth towels