Topic Overview
Most adults and older
children have several respiratory infections each year. Respiratory problems
can be as minor as the common cold or as serious as
pneumonia. They may affect the upper respiratory
system (nose, mouth, sinuses, and throat) or the lower bronchial tubes and
lungs. See a picture of the
respiratory system.
Upper respiratory system
The upper respiratory system
includes the nose, mouth, sinuses, and throat. When you have an upper
respiratory infection, you may feel uncomfortable, have a stuffy nose, and
sound very congested. Other symptoms of an upper respiratory infection
include:
- Facial pain or pressure.
- A runny or
stuffy nose, which may lead to blockage of the nasal passages and cause you to
breathe through your mouth.
- A sore
throat.
- Laryngitis.
- Irritability, restlessness, poor appetite, and decreased
activity level.
- Coughing, especially when lying
down.
- Fever that occurs suddenly and may reach
103°F (39°C) or higher.
Lower respiratory system
The lower respiratory system
includes the bronchial tubes and lungs. Respiratory problems are less common in
the lower respiratory system than upper respiratory system.
The
symptoms of a lower respiratory (bronchial tubes and lungs) problem usually are
more severe than symptoms of an upper respiratory (mouth, nose, sinuses, and
throat) problem.
Symptoms of lower respiratory system infections
include:
- Cough, which continues throughout the day and
night, often producing green, yellow, brown, or gray mucus (sputum) from the
lungs.
- Fever, which may be high with some lower respiratory system
infections such as pneumonia.
- Difficulty breathing. You may notice:
- Shortness of breath.
- Grunting,
which is heard during the breathing out (exhaling) phase of
breathing.
- Wheezing.
- Flaring the nostrils and using
the neck, chest, and abdominal muscles to breathe, causing a "sucking in"
between or under the ribs (retractions).
- Chest pain with exertion or when you take a deep
breath.
Respiratory problems may have many causes.
Viral infections
Viral infections are the most common
cause of upper respiratory symptoms. Symptoms of a viral illness often come on
quickly (over hours to a day or two) without prior illness. Common viral
illnesses include colds and influenza (flu).
- Colds are minor upper respiratory illnesses
that usually go away without treatment. Symptoms may include cough, mild sore
throat, nasal congestion, runny nose or sneezing, and occasionally a fever.
- Influenza (flu) symptoms are usually more severe than
a cold. The key symptoms in adults are fever and
body aches. Headache, eye pain, muscle aches, and cough are also common. For
more information, see the topic
Influenza (Seasonal Flu).
Antibiotics are not used to treat viral illnesses and do
not alter the course of viral infections. Unnecessary use of an antibiotic
exposes you to the risks of an
allergic reaction and antibiotic side effects, such as
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, and yeast infections. Antibiotics also may
kill beneficial bacteria and encourage the development of dangerous
antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Bacterial infections
Bacterial infections may develop
after a viral illness, such as a cold or influenza, and are less common than
viral illnesses. Bacterial infections may affect the upper or lower respiratory
system. Symptoms tend to localize to one area. In the upper respiratory system,
the most common sites of bacterial infections are the sinuses and throat. In
the lower respiratory system, the most common site is the lungs (pneumonia).
Bacterial infections are more
common in smokers, people exposed to secondhand smoke, and people with chronic
lung disease (such as
asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]) and other chronic medical problems. Antibiotics
can effectively treat most bacterial infections.
Allergies
Allergies, especially
hay fever, are another common respiratory problem. Symptoms include
sneezing, clear runny drainage from the nose and eyes, itchy eyes or nose, and
stuffy, congested ears and sinuses. The symptoms of allergies often last longer
than a typical viral respiratory infection. For more information, see the topic
Allergic Rhinitis.
Asthma
Asthma is a
chronic disease of the respiratory system. It causes
inflammation and narrowing in the tubes that carry air
to the lungs (bronchial tubes). The inflammation leads to difficulty breathing,
wheezing, tightness in the chest, and cough.
Asthma often begins during childhood and may last throughout a person's
life. The cause of asthma is not clearly known. It is more common in people who
also have allergies. For more information, see the topic
Asthma in Children or
Asthma in Teens and Adults.
Check your symptoms to decide if and when
you should see a doctor.
Home Treatment
Home treatment can help you feel
more comfortable when you have mild to moderate respiratory symptoms.
- Prevent
dehydration. Hot fluids, such as tea or soup, may help
relieve congestion in your nose and throat. If you have a productive cough,
fluids may help thin the
mucus in your lungs so your cough can clear it
out.
- Get extra rest; let your symptoms be your guide. If you have a
cold, you may be able to stick to your usual routine and just get some extra
sleep.
- Let yourself cough if you have a cough that brings up mucus
from the lungs. It can help prevent bacterial infections. People who have
chronic
bronchitis or
emphysema need to cough to help clear mucus from their
lungs.
- For a sore throat, gargle at least once each hour with warm
salt water [1 tsp (5 g) of salt in
8 fl oz (240 mL) of water] to
reduce swelling and discomfort. For more information, see the topic
Sore Throat.
Keep in mind the following guidelines for taking
nonprescription medicine for your symptoms:
- Use
decongestant nasal sprays sparingly and for only 3
days or less. Continued use may lead to a rebound effect, which causes the
mucous membranes to become more swollen than they were before you started using
the spray. With the right recipe, you can make
saline nose drops at home that will not cause a
rebound effect.
- Nonprescription medicines may not work very well for respiratory problems. And some of these
medicines can cause problems if you use too much of them. It is important to
use medicines correctly and to keep them out of the reach of children to
prevent accidental use. Check with the doctor before giving these medicines to
children.
- If you have a dry, hacking cough that does not bring up
any sputum, ask your doctor about an effective cough suppressant medicine. For
more information, see the topic
Coughs, Age 12 and Older.
Medicine you can buy without a prescription| Try a nonprescription
medicine to help treat your fever or pain: |
|---|
|
Safety tips| Be sure to follow these
safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine: |
|---|
- Carefully read and follow all directions
on the medicine bottle and box.
- Do not take more than the
recommended dose.
- Do not take a medicine if you have had an
allergic reaction to it in the past.
- If
you have been told to avoid a medicine, call your doctor before you take
it.
- If you are or could be pregnant, do not take any medicine other
than acetaminophen unless your doctor has told you to.
- Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than age 20 unless your doctor tells you to.
|
Alternative medicines or supplements
Many people use
alternative medicines or supplements to prevent colds or to shorten their cold
symptoms. Before using any treatment for your cold symptoms, it is important to
consider the risks and benefits of the treatment. For more information, see the
topic
Complementary Medicine. Some of the common alternative
medicines or supplements used are:
- Echinacea. Study results differ about whether echinacea can keep you from getting a cold or can help you get better faster. Echinacea can cause severe
allergic reactions in some people with a history of
asthma, allergies, hay fever, or eczema.
- Vitamin C. Long-term daily use of vitamin C
in large doses does not appear to keep you from getting a cold or help you get better
faster. There may be a slight
reduction in the length of time cold symptoms last when high doses are taken.
Additional studies must be done to determine how much vitamin C is needed to
reduce the length of time cold symptoms are present.
- Zinc. Using a product containing zinc may help shorten the length of your cold by up to a day.1 But you have to take the zinc as soon as you have any cold symptoms. In some cases, zinc products that you spray or place into your nose can cause permanent loss of the sense of smell.2
If you decide to use an alternative medicine or supplement,
follow these precautions:
- As with all conventional medicines and
supplements, it is important to follow the directions on the
label.
- Do not exceed the maximum recommended dose.
- If
you are or could be pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking any medicine
or supplement.
- If you have another health problem or take
prescription medicines, talk with your doctor before taking an alternative
medicine or supplement.
Symptoms to watch for during home treatment
Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home
treatment:
- Increasing difficulty breathing
develops.
- Wheezing develops.
- New chest pain develops.
- Symptoms last longer than 2 weeks.
- Symptoms become more severe or frequent.