Clinical Specialties

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Clinical Specialties
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Upper Respiratory Infection

DEFINITION

Upper respiratory infection is the medical term for the common cold. The common cold is caused by any one of over 200 viruses but most commonly comes from the rhinovirus. Cold viruses get into your body through your mouth or nose, usually from being sneezed into the air or being passed from dirty hands. The cold viruses can live on counters, utensils, doorknobs and other surfaces where it is then passed on to others when they touch their eyes, nose or mouth. As its name suggests, colds are quite common and tend to bring runny nose, cough and sore throat usually lasting 1-2 weeks. It is normal to have a cold two to four times over the course of the year with children having colds far more often, generally closer to six to ten times a year. Risk factors for catching a cold including being a child, having weakened immunity (due to disease or medications), and being in the fall and winter seasons. Complications of colds include ear infections (otitis media), wheezing, infection of the sinuses (sinusitis), and other bacterial infections like bronchitis and strep throat.

SYMPTOMS
Runny nose, headache, sneeze, cough, sore throat, congestion, body aches, fatigue, mild fever

DIAGNOSIS
Your doctor will begin by taking to you about your symptoms and time course of your disease then do a physical exam focusing on the head and throat. Your doctor may want to do some simple tests in the office to check for strep throat or mononucleosis. Generally, the diagnosis of upper respiratory infection is made based on the symptoms and exam. There is no specific test for the common cold.

TREATMENT
The common cold has no cure. However, your doctor may suggest many medications to help relieve the symptoms of cold until it resolves. No antibiotics work against the viruses that cause colds. Your doctor may recommend pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) to help relieve pain and bring down any fever. These medications should only be taken as needed and following the instructions on the bottle. Your doctor may recommend decongestant nasal sprays for a few days to relieve stuffy symptoms. These medications should not be used for more than a few days because they will begin to have the reverse effects. Your doctor may also recommend cough syrups to help control your cough though some debate exists as to whether the medications really work to relieve symptoms. You should discuss your treatment options with your doctor.

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