Health Dictionary Find a Doctor

Upper respiratory tract infection

For patient information click here Template:DiseaseDisorder infobox

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Synonyms and keywords: URI; URTI

Overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Upper respiratory tract infection is the illness caused by an acute infection which involves the upper respiratory tract: nose, sinuses, pharynx or larynx. In the United States, this represents approximately one billion acute upper respiratory illnesses annually.

Causes

15% of acute pharyngitis cases may be caused by bacteria, commonly Group A Strep (“Strep Throat“). Generally, patients with “Strep Throat” start with a sore throat as their first symptom, and they usually do not have a runny nose, cough, or sneezing.

Epidemiology and Demographics

Upper respiratory tract infection is the illness caused by an acute infection which involves the upper respiratory tract. In the United States, this represents approximately one billion acute upper respiratory illnesses annually.

Risk Factors

Any individual can be afflicted with the common cold, but children, geriatric patients, and people with a decreased immune system are affected more commonly.

References

Template:WH Template:WS

Historical Perspective

Please help WikiDoc by adding content here. It’s easy! Click here to learn about editing.

References

Template:WH Template:WS

Pathophysiology

Please help WikiDoc by adding content here. It’s easy! Click here to learn about editing.

References

Template:WH Template:WS

Causes

Please help WikiDoc by more adding more content here. It’s easy! Click here to learn about editing.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

15% of acute pharyngitis cases may be caused by bacteria, commonly Group A Strep (“Strep Throat“). Generally, patients with “Strep Throat” start with a sore throat as their first symptom, and they usually do not have a runny nose, cough, or sneezing.

Causes

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular No underlying causes
Chemical/Poisoning No underlying causes
Dental No underlying causes
Dermatologic No underlying causes
Drug Side Effect Alfuzosin, Amlodipine besylate and Valsartan, Apremilast, Basiliximab, Botulinum toxin, Butorphanol, crofelemer, Desmopressin,Ecallantide, Eculizumab, Eribulin, Febuxostat, Glyburide and Metformin, Golimumab, Ibrutinib, Latanoprost, Linagliptin, Losartan and Hydrochlorothiazide, Meloxicam, Metronidazole Topical, Naproxen and esomeprazole magnesium, Olodaterol, Omeprazole, Pantoprazole, Pirfenidone, Pramipexole, Rifaximin, Rilonacept, Ropinirole, Saxagliptin, Saxagliptin hydrochloride and Metformin hydrochloride, Secukinumab, Sertraline, Siltuximab, Tamsulosin, tasimelteon,Thalidomide, Triamcinolone acetonide, Topiramate, Valganciclovir hydrochloride
Ear Nose Throat No underlying causes
Endocrine No underlying causes
Environmental No underlying causes
Gastroenterologic No underlying causes
Genetic No underlying causes
Hematologic No underlying causes
Iatrogenic No underlying causes
Infectious Disease No underlying causes
Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic No underlying causes
Neurologic No underlying causes
Nutritional/Metabolic No underlying causes
Obstetric/Gynecologic No underlying causes
Oncologic No underlying causes
Ophthalmologic No underlying causes
Overdose/Toxicity No underlying causes
Psychiatric No underlying causes
Pulmonary No underlying causes
Renal/Electrolyte No underlying causes
Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy No underlying causes
Sexual No underlying causes
Trauma No underlying causes
Urologic No underlying causes
Miscellaneous No underlying causes

Causes by Alphabetical Order

References

Template:WH Template:WS

Differentiating Upper Respiratory Tract Infection from other Diseases

Please help WikiDoc by adding content here. It’s easy! Click here to learn about editing.

References

Template:WH Template:WS

Epidemiology and Demographics

Please help WikiDoc by adding more content here. It’s easy! Click here to learn about editing.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Upper respiratory tract infection is the illness caused by an acute infection which involves the upper respiratory tract. In the United States, this represents approximately one billion acute upper respiratory illnesses annually.

References

Template:WH Template:WS

Risk Factors

Please help WikiDoc by adding more content here. It’s easy! Click here to learn about editing.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Any individual can be afflicted with the common cold, but children, geriatric patients, and people with a decreased immune system are affected more commonly.

References

Template:WH Template:WS

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Please help WikiDoc by adding more content here. It’s easy! Click here to learn about editing.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Complications

Prognosis

An upper respiratory tract infection usually gets better after a few days, and it normally has a good prognosis. However, the cough may last 18 days according to a systematic review.[1]

References

  1. Haidet, Paul (2012-03). “Perspective”. Academic Medicine. 87 (3): 292–299. doi:10.1370/afm.1430. ISSN 1040-2446. PMID 23319500. Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)

Template:WH Template:WS

Diagnosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Findings | Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Treatment

Medical Therapy | Primary Prevention | Secondary Prevention | Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy | Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case Studies

Case #1

Related Chapters

Template:WH Template:WS

Looking for the patient version?

Back to the patient-friendly article

© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH