How are upper respiratory tract infections treated? What are the misconceptions?

  Upper respiratory tract infections are the most common illnesses seen in respiratory medicine clinics, and patients often arrive at the clinic asking for fluids, antibiotics, and fever reduction as soon as possible. It seems that the public is also commonly misinformed about the treatment of this seemingly simple upper respiratory tract infection. Here we will talk about this most common respiratory disease.  Upper respiratory tract infections are one of the most common diseases of the respiratory system, including infections of the nose, throat and pharynx, and are generally referred to as upper respiratory tract infections. However, the clinical manifestations of infections in different parts of the upper respiratory tract are not the same. For example, in nasopharyngeal infections, the cough stimulated by secretions is often predominant at night; in paranasal sinusitis, in addition to a persistent cough, it is often accompanied by pressure pain in the sinuses; while in pharyngitis, in addition to cough, the symptoms of itching and dryness in the pharynx are more pronounced; in pediatric laryngitis, the manifestation is a special hoarseness, similar to a broken bamboo cough.  According to the characteristics of clinical manifestations are divided into: common cold type, influenza, pharyngitis type, herpes pharyngitis type, pharyngeal conjunctival fever type common cold type, also known as acute rhinitis or upper respiratory tract khat, typhoid, the onset of the season is good in winter and spring; local nasopharyngeal symptoms are heavy, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, etc., systemic symptoms are light or absent; visible nasal mucosa congestion, edema, secretions, pharynx mild The blood count is low or normal, and the proportion of lymphocytes is elevated; the virus isolation is mostly rhinovirus in adults and respiratory syncytial virus in children. Generally 5-7 days to heal on their own.  Influenza Influenza is caused by the influenza virus, which has a rapid onset, is contagious, and has variable symptoms, mainly systemic toxic symptoms, with mild respiratory symptoms. There are chills, high fever (39-40 degrees), general discomfort, back and limb pain, weakness, headache, dizziness, sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, dry cough, little sputum. On examination, the patient had a severe illness, weakness, flushing, nasopharyngeal congestion and edema, and a small amount of wet rales or croup in the lower part of the lungs. White blood cells are reduced and lymphocytes are relatively increased.  Pharyngitis type The onset of the disease is in winter and spring; pharyngeal inflammation is the main cause, there may be discomfort, itching, burning sensation, sore throat, etc., may be accompanied by fever, malaise, etc.; on examination, there is obvious congestion and edema in the pharynx, submandibular lymph nodes are enlarged and tenderness; routine blood white blood cell count may be normal or reduced, the proportion of lymphocytes is increased; viruses isolated are mostly adenovirus, parainfluenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus.  Herpetic pharyngitis type The onset of the disease season occurs in summer, commonly in children, occasionally in adults; sore throat is more severe, mostly accompanied by fever, the duration of the disease is about 1 week; there is pharyngeal congestion soft palate, palatal lobe, pharynx and tonsil surface with gray-white herpes and surface ulcers, surrounded by a red halo; virus isolation is mostly coxsackievirus A. Pharyngeal conjunctival fever type The onset of the disease season often occurs in summer, swimming in the spread of children; there is sore throat, photophobia The symptoms of pharyngeal pain, photophobia, lacrimation, eye itching, fever, etc., the duration of the disease is about 4-6 days; pharyngeal cavity and conjunctival membranes are obviously congested and other signs; routine blood white blood cell count is normal or reduced, the proportion of lymphocytes increased; virus isolation is mostly adenovirus and coxsackievirus.  Treatment of three major misconceptions: 1, treatment must be infusion: as long as a cold and fever, to the hospital must ask to hang a bottle. Common on the sense as long as not dehydrated, the principle is to take oral as much as possible, otherwise prone to complications such as vasculitis, a large amount of liquid will also cause damage to the patient’s heart, increasing the burden on the heart, and even cause heart failure.  2, cure must reduce fever: the use of antipyretic drugs have strict indications and contraindications, but patients in order to reduce fever quickly, almost fever requires the use of, some even use their own glucocorticoids to reduce fever, but also seems to have their own ability, but antipyretic drugs are paid role, especially for the elderly and children. For the fever below 38.5 ℃ there is no need to use too strong antipyretic drugs.  3, cure must be antibacterial: many fevers are caused by viruses, it is known that antibacterial agents are powerless against viruses, and the effect of antiviral drugs is limited. However, some patients now require the use of strong broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents as soon as they have a fever. Such treatment not only rarely works, but also tends to cause dysbiosis of the normal flora and produce adverse reactions such as germ resistance.