What is acute upper respiratory tract infection Acute upper respiratory tract infection is a common and frequent disease in pediatrics, and can develop throughout the year. The onset of the disease is mainly due to inflammation caused by pathogens invading the nose, pharynx, tonsils and larynx. Most acute upper respiratory tract infections in children are viral in origin, but viral infections can impair local defenses of the upper respiratory tract and lead to secondary bacterial infections. Causes of acute upper respiratory tract infections In general, sudden changes in climate can easily cause acute upper respiratory tract infections, and children with malnutrition, diarrhea, calcium deficiency and other “weak and sickly” children are more likely to be infected. Parents who smoke, neglect to look after their children, and do not pay attention to teach their children to exercise are also the causes of children’s frequent illnesses. Fever, sore throat, cough and runny nose are the typical manifestations of upper respiratory tract infections, but the clinical manifestations of children at different ages vary somewhat. Older children, on the other hand, may have more prominent headaches and generalized muscle pain. Are upper respiratory tract infections contagious? In general, acute upper respiratory tract infections are not contagious, but some specific pathogens can cause the spread of the disease, especially in places where children of the same age gather, such as childcare or schools. Common infectious upper respiratory tract infections in infants and young children include pharyngeal conjunctival fever and herpes pharyngitis. Do upper respiratory tract infections require aggressive treatment? If upper respiratory tract infections are left untreated, the inflammation may spread to other organs and cause symptoms, and systemic symptoms may worsen. Common complications may include sinusitis, otitis media, ocular conjunctivitis, cervical lymphadenitis, and posterior (or lateral) pharyngeal wall abscesses. In case of acute otitis media, high fever, crying, head shaking and ear scratching due to ear pain, early tympanic membrane congestion and bulging, and later perforation and outflow of plasma or pus may affect hearing if treatment is not timely. In young and frail children, upper respiratory tract infections tend to develop downward, causing bronchitis and pneumonia. In a few cases, bacterial infection can cause complications in the body and other parts of the body, such as sepsis, meningitis, and nephritis in weak children. Therefore, parents of children with upper respiratory tract infections often go to multiple hospitals, resulting in cross-infection or repeated infections in children with low resistance. Therefore, it is necessary to know when it is necessary to consult a doctor. Generally, if the illness lasts for less than 3 days and the symptoms are mild, symptomatic treatment can be given at home. Treatment of upper respiratory tract infections Acute upper respiratory tract infections should be treated mainly at home. If your child has a high fever that does not go away and symptoms worsen, you need to actively seek medical attention. Some parents are anxious when their children are sick and often take oral antibiotics at home in the early stages of the disease, which is a misconception and should be avoided. This is a misconception that should be avoided. Antibiotics are not a necessary treatment for most upper infections, and repeated use of antibiotics can increase the likelihood of drug-resistant bacteria colonizing the body, resulting in a serious illness in which ordinary antibiotics are often ineffective. The correct approach is to follow the doctor’s advice and use antibiotics in a reasonable and appropriate amount, replacing infusions with oral ones as much as possible. Prevention of upper respiratory tract infections Upper respiratory tract infections can be reduced through prevention, strengthening the body’s resistance and preventing the invasion of pathogens is the key to prevention. Pay attention to exercise and arrange outdoor activities reasonably to adapt to environmental and climatic changes; dress appropriately, increase or decrease in time with climate change to prevent cold or overheating; feed reasonably, actively prevent and treat malnutrition, anemia and calcium deficiency; avoid crowded and poorly ventilated places.