Muscle Aches
While many upper respiratory infection (URI) symptoms are easily identifiable and sometimes even severe, some can be more subtle and difficult to notice. For example, muscle aches can occur with or without a fever, making it difficult to determine whether an ache is from the illness or from being indoors on a rainy day. The important thing to remember is that muscle aches could be a symptom of URI.
The body’s muscles are not one continuous unit—they are broken into segments, each responsible for different movements and functions. Most people think of muscles as only those responsible for moving limbs. Still, many other “invisible” muscles contract to help support various parts of the body, such as the chest and abdomen. These muscles do not appear externally like those that move limbs do; however, they are just as important for maintaining healthy function in those areas.
As with any illness, muscle aches can be one of the first symptoms noticed by a person experiencing an upper respiratory infection. Muscles experience soreness because they are overworked, so that soreness could indicate a positive development—the body is taking measures to defend itself against the threat posed by URI. In addition, a virus often causes this illness (though bacteria can also cause a cold), so the body’s immune system must work hard to fight the infection. This can result in muscle aches on one side of the body at a time.
