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Upper Respiratory Infection Symptoms And How To Get Rid Of It
An upper respiratory infection (URI) affects the nasal passages and throat. It can cause a cough, excess mucus, and other symptoms. Treatment will depend on the cause, but home remedies include using a dehumidifier and taking pain relief medication.
A URI occurs when a virus or bacteria enter the body, usually through the mouth or nose. The infection may pass to another person through touch or a sneeze or cough. The treatment is usually simple unless a person also has a chronic respiratory condition, such as asthma.
Adults tend to get between two and three URIs per year. Children, especially young children, may have more of these infections, because their immune systems are still developing.
Also, children who spend lots of time around other kids may be more prone to these infections, because children are less likely than adults to wash their hands after sneezing or wipe their noses when they need to.
Enclosed spaces where people gather, such as classrooms, offices, and homes, can be high risk areas for the spread of URIs.
Typically, a URI lasts 7–10 days, and sometimes, up to 3 weeks. In some cases, these infections develop into more serious issues, such as sinus infections or pneumonia.
This article explores how to identify a URI, the possible causes, how it spreads, and the available treatments.
While different types of URI can cause different symptoms, some common symptoms include:
Other symptoms can include:
On average, symptoms start 1–3 days after an individual comes into contact with a person with the infection and then last 7–10 days.
Types of URISeveral types of URI exist, and doctors classify them according to the part of the respiratory tract that they mainly affect. Types of URI include:
The common coldMany viruses can cause a cold. Symptoms may include:
The symptoms usually go away with home treatment after 10–14 days.
SinusitisSinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses, and it may stem from an infection in another part of the respiratory system.
The inflammation can lead to increased mucus production and blocked sinuses, due to difficulty draining.
Some symptoms of sinusitis are:
A person should contact a doctor if their symptoms last for longer than 10 days without improvement.
LaryngitisThis is inflammation of the vocal cords, also known as the larynx.
Some common symptoms include:
The symptoms usually last about 7–10 days.
PharyngitisPharyngitis is inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the pharynx, or back of the throat. It often occurs with URIs.
Some common symptoms of pharyngitis are:
A doctor may find that there are ulcers on the walls of the throat.
More serious symptomsAn individual needs medical attention if the following occur:
URIs may resolve without treatment, or the symptoms may be mild and easy to treat at home.
However, these infections can cause more serious symptoms or complications that need professional care.
Getting a diagnosis may be important, as the initial symptoms can resemble those of other illnesses, such as:
If any symptoms do not resolve with home care or if they get worse, a person should contact a doctor. This is especially important if they experience difficulty breathing.
Some over-the-counter (OTC) medicines may help adults with URI symptoms. These include:
Pain relief medication DecongestantsAccording to a 2019 study, nasal decongestants and antihistamines may together be an effective treatment approach. The study authors also note that children under the age of 4 should not use cold medication.
Treating a URI generally involves making a person more comfortable by relieving their symptoms. Some people find that home remedies help.
There is not enough conclusive evidence to show whether these remedies work, but some options include:
Other home care strategies include:
Find more cold and flu remedies here.
A URI is contagious. It spreads through tiny droplets that a person with an infection exhales.
Individuals may contract the illness through breathing in an uncovered cough or sneeze or via hand-to-hand contact with unwashed hands.
A person who touches their hands to their eyes, mouth, or nose can introduce the virus to their system.
The body has several natural defenses against URIs:
Learn eight ways to avoid the flu and the common cold here.
According to the American Lung Association, certain bacteria and viruses responsible for URIs can lead to pneumonia.
The bacteria most often responsible for pneumonia are Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Common viruses that can cause pneumonia include influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Influenza can be fatal, particularly for people living with preexisting conditions. RSV is the most common form of viral pneumonia, and typically, it is not as serious as bacterial pneumonia.
Therefore, it is beneficial for a person to receive both the influenza vaccine and the pneumonia vaccine. Doing so can decrease the risk of transmission of these conditions and reduce the severity of disease in those who get sick.
Viruses and bacteria can cause URIs. When a person with a URI sneezes or coughs, droplets of saliva and mucus that contain the pathogen spray into the air. Other people may breathe the droplets in, or they can land on surfaces that others touch.
If a person touches a contaminated surface and then their nose, eyes, or mouth, they may develop the infection.
Other risk factors for URIs include:
While most URIs resolve without medical attention, complications can arise, some of which can be severe.
A person should receive medical guidance if they have a URI and:
Anyone who has or may have COVID-19 should stay at home and rest. However, if any of the following issues develop, the person may need immediate care:
If any of the above arise, call 911 or take the person to a local emergency facility. Call ahead to let them know that the person arriving may have COVID-19.
It is not always possible to prevent a URI, but taking the following precautions can help:
When spending time in a crowded space is unavoidable, increasing the ventilation, such as by opening a window on a packed bus, may help.
URIs may cause similar symptoms, such as coughing, excess mucus, nasal congestion, a runny nose, and a sore throat.
Each type of URI may cause characteristic symptoms, as well. Doctors classify these infections based on their location in the respiratory tract.
Most people recover from a URI within 2 weeks with or without OTC or home treatments. However, if the symptoms get worse or are severe, a person should contact a doctor.
Q&A: Is It Allergies Or A Sinus Infection?
I have had allergies since childhood, suffering during both the spring and fall seasons. This past month, however, I am experiencing more congestion and mucus, and I even have some facial pain. I'm beginning to wonder if my symptoms are really from allergies or if they may be caused by a sinus infection instead. How can I tell the difference?
ANSWER: Allergies and sinus infections often are mistaken for one another. But they are two separate conditions. By paying close attention to the specific symptoms you have, you can usually identify which one is more likely to be causing the problem.
When someone has allergies, it means their body is negatively reacting to allergens, such as pollen, dust mites or pet dander. This reaction happens when the immune system releases certain substances, such as histamine, into the bloodstream. This leads to allergy symptoms, which may include itching, sneezing, sinus pressure, nasal congestion and discharge. Although allergies can produce many of the same symptoms as a sinus infection, the condition is different.
A sinus infection, also called sinusitis, affects the cavities around your nasal passages. The infection causes your sinuses to become inflamed and swollen. The swelling makes it hard for your sinuses to drain, and mucus builds up. You become congested and have trouble breathing through your nose. Sinusitis often causes thick nasal discharge. In addition, you may experience headaches as well as pressure around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead. Though more uncommon, cough and a sore throat can accompany sinusitis, too.
One of the telltale signs to discern if you have allergic rhinitis or a sinus infection is if you have itchy, watery eyes along with other symptoms. Itchiness is rarely a symptom of a sinus infection. Contrary to popular belief, the color of your mucus does not help tell the difference between allergies or sinus infections.
Given that you have noted seasonal allergies, pay attention to the timing of your symptoms. This also may help decide if they likely are caused by allergies. For example, tree pollen is most common in the spring. Grass pollen is common in late spring and early summer, while ragweed pollen is prevalent in the fall. Mold and fungi spores are usually more plentiful in warm-weather months. Of course, the seasons may be different, depending on the region of the country where you live.
Finally, medication response also can help you determine if you need additional medical care. For allergies, over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines, can be quite effective in relieving allergy symptoms, particularly itching and a runny nose. You also may try adding an over-the-counter nasal corticosteroid daily to help with allergy symptoms. These nasal sprays help prevent and treat nasal inflammation and congestion, especially if you have seasonal allergies and use them just as the allergy symptoms begin.
If you suspect your nasal congestion and other symptoms are the results of sinus problems rather than allergies, you just may need to be patient. In most cases, viruses cause sinusitis. These viral infections usually go away on their own within a week to 10 days. Self-care measures, such as extra rest and fluids, saline sinus rinses, and over-the-counter pain relievers and decongestants, can help. But if symptoms are persistent or severe, antibiotics may be needed to treat the infection.
If your symptoms are increasing, do not improve with current therapy or last for more than two weeks, you could benefit from a visit with your primary care clinician or an allergist. There are other options to help alleviate symptoms and address ongoing allergies or recurrent sinusitis.
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What Is Sinusitis?
That feeling of uncomfortable pressure behind your face, along with a stuffy nose and other cold-like symptoms? It might be sinusitis, more commonly referred to as a sinus infection. Sinusitis develops when the mucous lining of the sinuses—the pockets of air behind your facial structure—become inflamed, possibly due to a virus, bacterium, fungus or allergen.
Sinusitis is common. It's estimated that almost 30 million cases of sinusitis are diagnosed in U.S. Adults each year. While many of those sinusitis episodes go away on their own within a month, a healthcare provider can help detect the underlying cause and recommend treatment options for any lingering infections.
To help diagnose sinusitis and determine the best course of action for treatment, medical experts typically classify the illness by the following types:
Having a sinus infection may feel similar to a having a cold—but worse. Common sinusitis symptoms include:
A wide range of factors can cause sinusitis, which can make it confusing to figure out the underlying cause. Here's how some of the most common causes can be grouped:
Having certain risks factors can up your chances of developing a sinus infection. This includes circumstances like:
A healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms and medical history to help make a sinusitis diagnosis.
During this appointment, you can expect your ears, nose, and throat to be examined for signs of inflammation, blockage, or infection. In doing this, your healthcare provider ma be looking for redness, swollen nasal tissues, a swollen face that's tender to the touch, discolored nasal mucus, and bad breath.
From there, other tests may be ordered if needed, such as:
The treatment approach healthcare providers recommend will largely depend on the type of sinusitis you have.
Many cases of acute sinusitis will resolve themselves within 10 days or so. Your healthcare provider might suggest what's known as watchful waiting—essentially, observing your symptoms for a couple of days to see if your body can fight off the infection without prescribed treatment.
Some cases of sinusitis will need treatment. In addition to clearing the infection, the goal with treatment is to minimize any uncomfortable symptoms you're experiencing in the meantime.
OTC and Home RemediesPeople diagnosed with acute sinusitis are often good candidates for over-the-counter (OTC) and home remedies to ease symptoms. Some options include:
In more severe or chronic sinusitis cases, treatment options might involve prescription medications, such as:
If treatment doesn't seem to be working, at some point your healthcare provider might consider a referral to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat specialist) or recommend a surgical procedure to help clear any blockages in extreme cases.
There's no surefire way to completely avoid sinusitis, but there are some steps you can take to prevent the likelihood of an infection developing. Experts recommend tips like:
Sinusitis may not appear alongside any other condition. Depending on the underlying cause, though, there might be a condition happening alongside the sinus infection. Conditions that can happen alongside sinusitis include allergies, asthma, and nasal polyps.
Sinusitis might also affect sleep. It's believed that the symptoms of a chronic sinusitis can make it hard to fall and stay asleep, leading to fatigue during the day. The lack of good-quality sleep can also lead to depression, a poorer quality of life, and worsened cognitive function.
There is also some evidence to suggest that chronic sinusitis is associated with obstructive sleep apnea, when breathing is temporarily cut off during sleep due to narrowed airway. The research is inconsistent, though.
Sinusitis is common. While symptoms can be annoying, the sinus infection usually clears up on its own within a month. If a sinus infection lasts longer or continues to crop up, a healthcare provider can help determine what the cause is and recommended an appropriate treatment plan.
Even if you have acute sinusitis, there are still certain signs you should keep an eye out for that might signal you should visit a healthcare provider. Those signs include:
Even if a healthcare provider determines you don't need any prescribed medication, ask them about any OTC medications you can take to make yourself feel better as the sinusitis clears. The pain and pressure may be relieved with the help of a decongestant or even a warm compress or hot shower.
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