The most common cause of a respiratory tract infection is one of over 200 viruses.

However, a bacteria or fungus can be its cause as well. Viruses causing respiratory infections are highly contagious. And they disperse readily via direct contact. Respiratory tract infections are divided into upper and lower. An upper respiratory tract infection disturb your: ears nose throat larynx trachea sinuses nasal cavity

For the most part, upper respiratory infections are not considered a major health hazard, but are usually bothersome. Lower respiratory tract infections afflict your: bronchi lung alveoli bronchioles

In general, lower respiratory infections encumber your health more seriously than upper respiratory infections. The viruses that cause nearly all upper respiratory respiratory tract infections are: rhinovirus adenovirus enterovirus coronavirus influenza virus parainfluenza virus respiratory syncytial virus

Some of these can cause gastroenteritis too. There are many different types of virus, bacteria or fungus caused upper respiratory infections, including: SARS croup sinusitis tonsillitis influenza laryngitis diphtheria coxsackie epiglottitis pharyngitis

strep throat aspergillosis common cold whooping cough Legionnaires disease otitis media & externa

Your upper respiratory system is the most frequently infected area of the body. And, on average, a child will experience about six virus caused respiratory infections a year. The prevalent types of lower respiratory infections are: bronchitis pneumonia bronchiolitis

Influenza is a systemic disturbance, thus it can infect in both your upper and lower respiratory tracts. Symptoms of upper and lower respiratory tract infections depend on the type. Yet, you can expect some of these classic symptoms: fever cough malaise ear ache sneezing headache sore throat muscle aches loss of appetite runny, stuffy nose

Normally, acute respiratory illnesses last from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. Respiratory infection treatment caused by a virus is all about relieving symptoms. Many reach for OTC decongestants, antihistaminesand pain relievers for assistance. Although viruses primarily cause respiratory infections, antibiotics are erroneously used treat these infections. Rhinitis: Causes for Allergic Rhinitis, Vasomotor Nonallergic Rhinitis Symptoms for Treatment Lung, Pulmonary, Respiratory Disease, Difficulty Breathing Problems, Shortness of Breath Causes Types of Infectious Disease, Communicable, Contagious, Emerging, Childhood Infectious Diseases Contagious and Infectious Dog Disease, Cat Disease, Pet Disease, How to Prevent Zoonotic Diseases

There are mainly two kind of respiratory infections, namely, upper respiratory infections and lower respiratory infections. Upper respiratory infections mainly affects the upper part of the body like the sinus, nose and pharynx. While, the lower respiratory infection system affects the respiratory system from the trachea to the lungs. In most cases, the upper respiratory infections occur due to microbial pathogens, like viruses and bacteria. The symptoms of upper respiratory infection arise after 1 to 3 days, after the virus has attacked the respiratory system. Hand shaking, sharing infected food, touching the nose or mouth with infected hands can cause upper respiratory infections. Regular smokers are more prone to lower respiratory infections. Pneumonia is also known to cause lower respiratory infections. Now that we know about the broad types, let's take a look at the respiratory infection symptoms. Symptoms of Respiratory Infections Before you take any treatment or medication, it is advised that you know whether you are suffering from upper respiratory infections or lower respiratory infections. Though, their symptoms are almost the same, there is a minute difference. Hence, it may be difficult to identify, whether the infection is due to malfunction in the upper or the lower respiratory system. Upper Respiratory Infection Symptoms: The most commonly observed upper respiratory infection symptom is headache, sore throat, sneezing, muscle ache, facial pressure and stuffy or runny nose. Nasal congestion and excess mucous are also symptoms of upper respiratory infections. Coughing up blood can also be a symptom. Ear infection, common cold, sinusitis, bronchitis and laryngitis are also symptoms of upper respiratory infections. In most cases, the symptoms disappear within a week or two. Lower Respiratory Infection Symptoms: The lower respiratory infections are more serious and severe than the upper respiratory infections. The most observed symptom or rather the main lower respiratory infection symptom is cough. The cough is very intense. It brings up phlegm, which is blood stained. Along with cough, the other observed symptoms are breathlessness, wheezing, headache, sinusitis, blocked nose, sore throat, a tight feeling in the chest and body pain. High fever and fatigue are also symptoms of lower respiratory infections symptoms. Most of the times, respiratory infections are cured without any treatment. But, in some cases, the infection becomes severe and the need for proper treatment arises. If you are feeling very unwell because of the above-mentioned symptoms, then it is advised to consult a medical practitioner. If you are suffering from cystic fibrosis, weakened immune system or if you are suffering from diseases like multiple sclerosis, which affects your nervous system, then it is a must to visit a doctor, as these infections might worsen the disease you are suffering from. People suffering from lung, heart, liver or kidney diseases should also consult a doctor, if the above-mentioned respiratory infection symptoms are observed. People above 65 years experience this symptom, then it is advisable to seek the advice of a doctor. If, in the past, you have had a heart attack, or if you are suffering from diabetes, then it is a must to take proper medications. Hope this short write-up must have cleared your doubts about respiratory infection symptoms. In the winter months, there is a surge in respiratory infections. If proper hygiene is maintained, you can keep away from upper respiratory infections. And, if you eat a healthy diet and avoid smoking, then you can easily stay away from lower respiratory infections. Have a healthy life! Read more on: structure of the human respiratory system.

upper respiratory tract and lower respiratory tract. Both parts of the system can be affected by infections. Lower respiratory infection (LRI) is an infection that affects trachea (windpipe), lungs, bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli. Infection of lower respiratory tract is more serious than infection of the upper respiratory tract. Lower respiratory tract infections most commonly include bronchitis and pneumonia. Emphysema and lung abscess also represent infections of the lower respiratory tract. If the infection is caused by bacteria, antibiotics are the first step of treatment. On the other hand, if it is a viral infection, antibiotics are not prescribed. Bronchitis Bronchitis represents an inflammation of the air passages within the lungs. Bronchitis can be either acute or chronic. Acute bronchitis is followed by cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, fatigue, chest discomfort, slight fever and chills. In most cases bronchitis is not caused by viral infection thereby it should not be treated with antibiotics although there are no effective therapies for the condition. Cough related to acute bronchitis is sometimes treated with Beta2 agonists. Chronic bronchitis occurs due to long term inflammation of air passages, which leads to scaring of the bronchial tubes. Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB) are periods of difficulty breathing in a patient with chronic bronchitis. AECB can be caused by allergens, toxins and viral or bacterial infections. One half of all patients suffering from AECB are affected by Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae or Moraxella catarrhalis. The condition can be treated with antibiotics if it is followed by increased dyspnoea, increased sputum volume and purulence. Pneumonia Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that may be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. It is most commonly caused by pneumococcal bacteria. Pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. and it can be particularly serious in elderly people, children below 5 years of age and people with impaired immune system. Bacterial pneumonia is commonly treated with antibiotics while viral pneumonia may be treated with antiviral medications. Treatment for Lower Respiratory Infections Lower respiratory infection can be diagnosed with the help of blood tests and X-ray. Cough caused by lower respiratory infection is treated with over the counter medications such as decongestant drops and sprays. Headache, pain and fever can be managed with pain relievers such as paracetamol. High fever can be additionally decreased with increased intake of fluids. Antibiotics used for bacterial infections are commonly amoxicillin or procaine penicillin.