Respiratory Infections: Types, Symptoms, and Treatments

Respiratory infections refer to infections that affect the respiratory tract, including conditions like the common cold, flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
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Respiratory System Anatomy | Viral Respiratory Infections | Acute Respiratory Infections | Respiratory Virus | Lung Diseases
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Respiratory Infections FAQ


Image credit: clinicalomics.com

What is a respiratory tract infection?

A respiratory tract infection affects the respiratory system, the part of your body responsible for breathing. These infections can affect your sinuses, throat, lungs or airways. There are two types of respiratory infections: Upper respiratory infections. Lower respiratory infections.

What are the symptoms of a respiratory infection?

Upper respiratory infection symptoms include a runny nose, sore throat and cough. Treatment for upper respiratory infections often includes rest, fluids and over-the-counter pain relievers. Infections usually go away on their own. What is a respiratory infection?

How are respiratory infections classified?

Viral infections commonly affect the upper or lower respiratory tract. Although respiratory infections can be classified by the causative virus (eg, influenza ), they are generally classified clinically according to syndrome (eg, the common cold , bronchiolitis , croup , pneumonia ).

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