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Health Risks: Upper Respiratory Infections
CAUSES
Upper respiratory infections (URI's) are caused by viruses and occasionally by bacteria. There are more than one hundred viruses that may cause what we call a "cold". A URI may occur anytime during the year but is caused most frequently in the fall, winter and early spring. URI germs especially viruses are spread from person to person easily by coughing and sneezing. Germs are also carried on hands and can be transferred from one person to another by just a handshake! Viruses can spread from an infected person to others even before symptoms have begun! By the time a person has a congested nose and sore throat less virus is being shed so transmission to another person is actually less likely. This is one main reason why viral URI's are so prevalent. Bacterial URI's are less frequent but still important. Though most colds are viral, most sinus infections are caused by bacteria. Another bacterial infection that occurs is a strep infection in the throat or tonsil areas.
Children catch the most colds about 6 per year as infants, tapering off to about 3 per year in adolescence. As people grow older, they catch less colds ( in most cases). This is because adults are more careful about hand washing and avoidance and due to increased immunity. This increased immunity is gained by having suffered many of these infections in the past.
Viral illness is not treatable with medications. That means that most URI's have to be cured by a person's immune system. Medications such as antihistamines and decongestants are often used to provide symptomatic relief. Antibiotics are not helpful since they do not kill viruses. The hope is that in the future there may be a multivalent vaccine that people can use to help to increase immunity to many of these viruses. Bacterial infections such as strep throat and sinusitis ( and ear infections) are treated with antibiotics. Your doctor can decide which one of the many on the market is best for your infection. Is it a sinus infection or a bad cold?? This is one of the most difficult decisions doctors have to make. Both can cause discolored nasal drainage, low grade fever, cough and sinus pressure. A CT scan or Xray gives more proof but these are expensive. In general, a cold will last for 7 days while a sinus infection can last for weeks.
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