Upper respiratory infection is a broad term for many infections that attack the nose, throat, sinuses, and lungs. The most common culprits of upper respiratory infection are cold viruses, but other types of infections can also cause symptoms like the ones listed below.
The common cold is the most common cause of upper respiratory infections in the US. Colds are usually caused by a rhinovirus, one of many different types of viruses that can cause cold symptoms. Rhinoviruses are very contagious, spreading easily from person to person.
Upper respiratory infections often begin with the common cold: sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, and malaise. However, it’s important to note that plenty of other conditions have similar symptoms—it’s impossible to diagnose an upper respiratory infection just by looking at these signs alone.
Here are some key indicators that your sickness may be an upper respiratory infection.
Cough
Most people don’t equate coughing with upper respiratory infections (URIs), but coughing is one of the most common symptoms of URIs. In addition, coughing accompanies many URIs and is one of the most debilitating symptoms. There are several reasons why cough may develop as a symptom of URI, including the fact that URI causes lung inflammation, which can irritate the airways to cause coughing. Because an infection inside the body forces mucus to be released from the lungs, this mucus can eventually lead to coughing; and some individuals may just be more susceptible to developing a cough than others.
Depending on the underlying reason for the cough, different treatments are available for controlling it. For example, if an irritation causes a cough in the airways, an antihistamine will often reduce or end coughing altogether. However, if the mucus is causing the cough and it’s not accompanied by other symptoms such as fever or chills, then treating the underlying infection with antibiotics can eliminate both the cough and other symptoms. Finally, if certain individuals are prone to developing a cough with a URI, you can take preventive measures to reduce their chances of developing a cough when they have an infection.
