1.What is upper respiratory tract infection?
Upper respiratory tract infection (referred to as upper respiratory tract infection) is also known as the common cold. It is a general term that includes acute inflammation of the nasal cavity, pharynx or larynx. It can develop throughout the year, and is more frequent in winter and spring.
2.What are the causes of upper respiratory infection?
Upper respiratory tract infections are caused by viruses in 70% to 80% of cases. Another 20% to 30% of upper respiratory infections are caused by bacteria. Various causes of systemic or respiratory local defense function is reduced, such as cold, rain, sudden climate change, excessive fatigue, etc. can induce the disease. Patients who are old, young, weak, immunocompromised or suffering from chronic respiratory diseases are susceptible.
3.What is the manifestation of having upper sensation?
Sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose. Or cough, dry throat, itching or burning sensation. Low fever, malaise, mild chills, headache. Or hoarseness, difficulty in speaking, pain when coughing, etc.
4.What tests are needed?
①Blood routine: In viral infection, the white blood cell count is mostly normal or low, and the proportion of lymphocytes is increased; in bacterial infection, the white blood cell count is often increased, with neutrophilia.
②Ethiological examination: Generally, no definite pathogenic examination is required. If necessary, immunoassay and other methods can be used to determine the type of virus. Bacterial culture can determine the type of bacteria and do drug sensitivity tests to guide clinical use.
5.How to treat?
①Rest: The sick or old and frail should rest in bed, avoid smoking, drink more water, and keep indoor air circulation.
②Antipyretic and analgesic: If you have fever, headache, muscle pain and other symptoms, you can use antipyretic and analgesic drugs, such as compound aspirin, acetaminophen, indomethacin pain relief tablets, ibuprofen, etc. For sore throat, various throat tablets such as lysozyme tablets, Jianmin Throat Tablets, or the Chinese herbal medicine Liushenwan can be taken orally.
③Decongestants: nasal congestion, nasal mucosa congestion and edema, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride can be used, also available 1% ephedrine nasal drops.
④Antihistamines: When you have a cold, you often have increased sensitivity of the nasal mucosa, frequent sneezing and runny nose, you can use antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine maleate or diphenhydramine.
⑤ Cough suppressants: For those with more pronounced cough symptoms, cough suppressants such as dextromethorphan and pentoxifylline can be given.
(6) Antibacterial drug therapy: No antibacterial drugs are needed for simple viral infections, and when there is evidence of bacterial infection, antibacterial drugs can be used as appropriate.
(7) Anti-viral drug therapy: There are no specific anti-viral drugs. They can be used routinely early in patients with immunodeficiency. The broad-spectrum antiviral drugs ribavirin and oseltamivir have a strong inhibitory effect on influenza virus, parainfluenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus, etc., and can shorten the course of the disease.
(8) Chinese herbal medicines with antipyretic and antiviral effects can also be used to help improve the symptoms and shorten the course of the disease.
6.What is the prognosis of upper respiratory tract infection?
The disease is mild, short-course, self-limiting disease, most patients have a good prognosis. However, a very small number of elderly, frail, more underlying diseases, especially combined with serious chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), may have a poor prognosis due to serious complications.
7.How to prevent upper sensation?
① Avoid cold, rain, excessive fatigue; avoid contact with cold patients, avoid dirty hands touching the mouth, eyes, nose. Older and weaker susceptible people should pay more attention to protection, upper respiratory tract infection epidemic should wear a mask, avoid going in and out of public places where there are many people.
②Enhance physical fitness: adhere to moderate and regular outdoor exercise, improve the body’s immunity and cold tolerance is the main method to prevent this disease.
③Immunomodulatory drugs and vaccines: For patients with frequent and repeated occurrence of the disease and those with low immunity in old age, immune boosters can be applied as appropriate. At present, there is no vaccine against viruses other than influenza virus.