#Health Info: Upper Respiratory Infection (URTI)

I have sleepless night which I have been coughing all night, chest pain, breathless and no voice. I could hardly talk, how can I continue to work as I'm working as Customer Service Representative in a Call Centre.

I called up to report that I will be consulting doctor. I went to Tan Tock Seng Hospital A&E (Accident & Emergency). After long hours in the observation room, finally I was discharged and given 3 days medical leave. I was diagnose with Upper Respiratory Infection (URTI).

Upper Respiratory Infection Facts

• Upper respiratory infections are one of the most common reasons of doctor visits.
• Upper respiratory infections are the most common illness resulting in missed work or school.
• Vast majority of upper respiratory infections are caused by viruses and are self limited.
• Antibiotics are rarely needed to treat upper respiratory infections and generally should be avoided, unless the doctor suspect a bacterial infection.
• Simple techniques, such as proper hand washing and covering face while coughing or sneesing, may reduce the spread of upper respiratory infections.
• General outlook for upper respiratory infection is favourable, although, sometimes, complications can occur.

What is an Upper Respiratory Infection (URTI)?
The upper respiratory tract include the sinuses, nasal passages, pharynx, and larynx. These structures direct the air we breathe from the outside to the trachea and eventually to the lungs for respiration to take place.

An upper respiratory tract infection or upper respiratory infection is an infection process of any of the components of the upper airway.

Infection of the specific areas of the upper respiratory tract can be named specifically. Example of these may include rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal cavity), sinus infection (sinusitis or rhinosinusitis) - inflammation of the sinuses located around the nose, common cold (nasopharyngitis) - inflammation of the nares, pharynx, hypopharynx, uvula and tonsils, pharyngitis (inflammation of the upper portion of the larynx or the epiglottis), laryngitis (inflammation of of the larynx), laryngotracheitis (inflammation of the larynx and the trachea), and tracheitis (inflammation of the trachea).

Upper respiratory infections are one of the most frequent causes of doctors visits with varying symptoms ranging from runny nose, sore throat, cough to breathing difficulty, and lethargy. In the United States, upper respiratory infections are the most common illness leading to missing school or work.

Although upper respiratory infections can happen at any time, they are most common in the fall and winter months, from September until March. This may be explained because these are the usual school months when children and adolescents spend a lot of time in groups and inside closed doors. Furthermore, many viruses of upper respiratory infection thrive in the low humidity of the winter.

Information from MedicineNet.com.