Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Upper Respiratory Tract Infection?
An Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) is an infection of the nose, throat, and sinuses. It is a common condition caused by a variety of viruses and bacteria, including the common cold virus. URTIs can be mild or severe, lasting from several days to weeks. Symptoms include sore throat, coughing, congestion, runny nose, sneezing, fever, fatigue and headache.The best way to prevent getting a URTI is to practice good hygiene such as washing your hands frequently with soap and water or using hand sanitizer when outside the home. Avoid close contact with sick people and stay away from crowded places if possible. It’s also important to get adequate rest each night so that your body has enough energy to fight off any infections that arise.Treatment for URTI usually includes taking over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers (ibuprofen or acetaminophen), decongestants for nasal congestion relief (pseudoephedrine) and cough suppressants (dextromethorphan). Drinking plenty of fluids helps thin secretions in the respiratory tract which makes it easier for them to move out of the body instead of lingering on surfaces where they can spread more easily from person to person. Inhaling steam from warm water may help clear mucus in some cases as well. Antibiotics are not typically prescribed unless there is evidence of bacterial involvement; most upper respiratory infections are viral in nature so antibiotics will have no effect except possibly causing side effects without any real benefit since viruses cannot be killed by these drugs anyway. For those who suffer recurrently or severely from URTI symptoms seeking medical advice may be necessary since there can sometimes be underlying conditions contributing factors like allergies or asthma which require additional attention beyond just symptom relief treatments alone such as immunotherapy/allergy shots or inhalers depending on individual needs/situations determined through physical exam/assessment by healthcare provider(s). Overall proper prevention techniques should always be taken seriously anytime you’re around other people who might potentially have contagious illnesses while knowing how quickly germs can spread so it’s very important maintain healthy habits regularly throughout the year which helps reduce risk having this type infection occur in first place along receiving appropriate treatment immediately upon onset any symptoms present themselves rather than waiting see what happens next because delaying care only increases chances experiencing much worse outcomes long term leading things like pneumonia further health complications down road due untreated infections left unchecked too long.