Treatment of upper respiratory tract infection

Do you know what upper respiratory tract infection is? If it is the common cold, everyone should know it. In fact, upper respiratory tract infection is what we usually call the common cold, which also includes some inflammations in the throat and nasal cavity. If it is a broader meaning, it is a general term for many diseases, including colds, pharyngitis, laryngitis, and tonsillitis. Everyone should learn about the treatment of upper respiratory tract infection in time.

Upper respiratory tract infections include many diseases, the most common of which are colds, viral pharyngitis, and herpetic pharyngitis. These will have an impact on the patient's body and life. In particular, the incidence rate is very high among children. We must be able to know the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in a timely manner.

Clinical manifestations

Depending on the cause and extent of the disease, clinical manifestations may be of different types:

1. Common Cold

Commonly known as "cold", also known as acute rhinitis or upper respiratory tract catarrh, is mostly caused by rhinovirus, followed by coronavirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, echovirus, coxsackievirus, etc.

The onset is acute, 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. There is generally no fever or systemic symptoms, or only low-grade fever, malaise, mild chills, and headache. Physical examination revealed congestion, edema, secretions in the nasal mucosa, and mild congestion in the pharynx.

When Eustachian tube inflammation occurs, symptoms such as hearing loss may occur. Purulent sputum or severe lower respiratory tract symptoms suggest concurrent viral infection other than rhinovirus or secondary bacterial infection. If there are no complications, recovery can be achieved in 5 to 7 days.

2. Acute viral pharyngitis or laryngitis

(1) Acute viral pharyngitis is mostly caused by rhinovirus, adenovirus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, enterovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, etc. The clinical features are itching or burning sensation in the throat, rare cough, and mild pharyngeal pain. When swallowing is painful, it often indicates a streptococcal infection. Influenza virus and adenovirus infections may cause fever and fatigue. Adenovirus pharyngitis may be associated with conjunctivitis. Physical examination revealed obvious congestion and edema in the pharynx, and enlarged and tender submandibular lymph nodes.

(2) Acute viral laryngitis is mostly caused by rhinovirus, influenza A virus, parainfluenza virus and adenovirus. Clinical features include hoarseness, difficulty speaking, pain when coughing, and often fever, sore throat or cough. Physical examination revealed laryngeal edema and congestion, mild enlargement and tenderness of local lymph nodes, and audible stridor in the laryngeal region.

3. Acute herpetic pharyngitis

It is often caused by Coxsackievirus A, with symptoms of obvious sore throat and fever. The course of the disease is about 1 week, and it often occurs in summer. It is more common in children and occasionally in adults. Physical examination may reveal pharyngeal congestion, grayish-white blisters and superficial ulcers on the surface of the soft palate, uvula, pharynx and tonsils, surrounded by red halos, which will later form herpes.

treat

1. Symptomatic treatment

(1) Rest: Those with serious illnesses or the elderly and frail should rest in bed, avoid smoking, drink plenty of water, and keep the room well ventilated.

(2) Antipyretic and analgesic drugs: If you have symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, etc., you can choose antipyretic and analgesic drugs, such as compound aspirin, acetaminophen, indomethacin (indomethacin), analgesics, ibuprofen, etc. Throat pain can be treated by taking various throat lozenges such as lysozyme tablets, Jianmin throat lozenges, or the Chinese medicine Liushen Pills orally.

(3) Decongestants: For nasal congestion and nasal mucosal congestion and edema, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride or 1% ephedrine nasal drops can be used.

(4) Antihistamines: Colds often cause increased sensitivity of the nasal mucosa, frequent sneezing and runny nose. Antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine maleate or diphenhydramine can be used.

(5) Antitussives: For patients with more obvious cough symptoms, antitussives such as dextromethorphan and pentoxyverine can be given.

2. Treatment of the cause

(1) Antimicrobial drugs are not required for the treatment of simple viral infections. When there is evidence of bacterial infection such as elevated white blood cell count, pharyngeal pus, and cough with yellow sputum, penicillin, first-generation cephalosporins, macrolides, or quinolones may be used as appropriate. It is rarely necessary to select sensitive antimicrobial drugs based on the pathogen.

(2) Antiviral drug treatment There is currently no specific antiviral drug, and the misuse of antiviral drugs can cause influenza virus resistance. Therefore, if there is no fever, normal immune function, and the patient has been ill for more than two days, it is generally not necessary to use it. It can be used routinely in the early stages in immunocompromised patients. The broad-spectrum antiviral drugs ribavirin and oseltamivir have a strong inhibitory effect on influenza virus, parainfluenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus, and can shorten the course of the disease.

3. Treatment with traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine with heat-clearing, detoxifying and antiviral effects can also be used to help improve symptoms and shorten the course of the disease. Xiao Chaihu Granules and Isatis Root Granules are widely used.

The treatment of upper respiratory tract infection requires scientific methods. Such infections are very common, especially when seasons change. We must be able to prevent these diseases and avoid catching cold, especially babies. We must be able to add or remove clothes for them in time, strengthen our physical fitness appropriately, exercise more, and pay attention to dietary regularity.