Respiratory Tract Infections – Causes of Respiratory Tract Infections, Symptoms

Respiratory tract infections affect both upper and lower respiratory tracts. Upper respiratory tract infections, however, are very common and includes influenza, inflammation of voice box (laryngitis), sinusitis, sore throat (pharyngitis), croup (in children), tonsillitis and common cold ( rhinitis).

Causes of Respiratory Tract Infections:
More than 200 viruses can cause upper respiratory tract infections. These are extremely contagious and can spread very fast. These viruses infect respiratory tract of any individual by direct contact such as sharing drink or food, kissing and shaking hands. These also spread through sneezing and coughing. Common cause may include toughing one’s nose, mouth or eyes with own hands after touching affected areas. Bacteria causes acute pharyngitis. Bacterial infections cause sore throat and is called strep throat.

Symptoms of Respiratory Tract Infections:

Upper respiratory tract infections include:

• Cough and cold
• Blocked nose
• Fever
• Headache
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Extreme sensitivity to warm and cold weather
• Sneezing
• Facial pressure
• Phlegm

Generally, symptoms begin after 1 to 3 days of exposing to virus. Symptoms last for a week to 10 days, but infection lasts for long time. Various types respiratory tract infections have various symptoms and vary from one another.

• Tonsillitis Symptoms: This is a condition of inflammation in tonsils that leads to sore throat and difficulty in swallowing.
• Common cold symptoms: These symptoms include runny nose, headache, sore throat, sneezing, congestion, coughing. Fever may or may not attack.
• Croup Symptoms: These infections in children occur during nights. Croup symptoms include bark-like breathing sound known as “stridor”.
• Sinusitis Symptoms: Sinusitis symptoms follow cold that cannot be cured and commonly includes pressure and pain in nasal, cheek and forehead, headache besides cold.
• Laryngitis Symptoms: Voice loss and hoarseness, as pharyngitis is a severe sore throat.
• Influenza Symptoms: Flu patients feel discomfort with cough and cold. Flu patients also experience headache, fever, weakness, fatigue, body aches, high fever and chills.