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Upper respiratory infection
From WikEM
Contents
Background
- Rhinovirus is most common cause[1]
- Other causes include: coronavirus, adenovirus.
Clinical Features
- Common cold[2]
- Sore throat
- Malaise
- Low-grade fever
- Cough (usually 24-48 hrs later)
- Rhinorrhea
- Nasal congestion
- Symptoms peak by day 3 or 4, resolve by day 7
Differential Diagnosis
Influenza-Like Illness
Cough
Acute (< 3 wks)
- URI (rhinitis, sinusitis, pertussis)
- LRI (bronchitis, pneumonia)
- Influenza
- Allergy
- Asthma
- Environmental irritants
- Transient airway hyperresponsiveness
- Foreign body
- SARS
Chronic (> 8 wks)
- Postinfectious; pertussis
- Smoking and/or chronic bronchitis
- Postnasal discharge
- Asthma
- GERD
- ACEI/ARB
- CHF
- Lung cancer or intrathoracic mass
- Emphysema
- Interstitial lung disease
- Psychiatric
Evaluation
- Clinical diagnosis.
- Rule out other serious causes
Management
- Supportive care
- Avoid prescribing antibiotics[3]
- Mucolytics: little evidence to support usage
- Bronchodilators if wheezing present
Disposition
Outpatient
See Also
External Links
References
- ↑ Tallman TA. Acute Bronchitis and Upper Respiratory Tract Infections. In: Tintinalli JE, Stapczynski J, Ma O, Cline DM, Cydulka RK, Meckler GD, T. eds. Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2011
- ↑ Tallman TA. Acute Bronchitis and Upper Respiratory Tract Infections. In: Tintinalli JE, Stapczynski J, Ma O, Cline DM, Cydulka RK, Meckler GD, T. eds. Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2011
- ↑ Choosing Wisely. Infectious Diseases Society of America. http://www.choosingwisely.org/clinician-lists/infectious-diseases-society-antbiotics-for-upper-respiratory-infections/
