What Are the Treatment Options for Upper Respiratory Infection?

Upper respiratory infections, or URIs, are caused by viruses and bacteria that infect your respiratory tract above your vocal cords. Symptoms usually include a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, or headache. Common colds, strep throat, and sinus infections are all common examples of upper respiratory infections. Most URIs are caused by viruses and eventually go away on their own.

What is an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection?

An upper respiratory infection, or URI, is a viral or bacterial illness in the upper part of your respiratory system. This includes your sinuses, nose, and throat.

A runny nose, sore throat, headache, and other cold-like symptoms might come to mind when you think of an upper respiratory infection. Common colds and other viruses are usually to blame for URIs. But some URIs, like strep throat or some cases of sinusitis, are bacterial infections. Yet still others, like the viruses responsible for the flu, COVID-19, and RSV, will cause both upper and lower respiratory infections.

What are the Symptoms of an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection?

Symptoms of an upper respiratory infection depend on the cause and what specific part of your body is affected. An infection can lead to swelling in parts of your respiratory tract, causing conditions like pharyngitis, laryngitis, and epiglottitis, which can all have different symptoms.

Symptoms of upper respiratory infections might include:

A fever.
A sore throat.
A cough.
A runny or stuffy nose.
Sneezing.
A hoarse voice or the loss of your voice.
Fatigue.
Facial pain.
Wheezing.
Swollen lymph nodes.

How do You Treat Upper Respiratory Infections?

Proper treatment for upper respiratory infections will depend on the cause. There are no specific treatments for most viral URIs, such as colds. Providers will treat bacterial infections, like strep throat, with antibiotics.

Contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms:

Have become severe.
Have lasted longer than two weeks.
Come back frequently.

Long-lasting or frequent symptoms can be signs of a bacterial infection, fungal infection, or another health condition. Share with your healthcare provider if you have a compromised immune system or other health conditions that could put you at higher risk for severe illness if you get a URI.

At-Home Remedies

Since most URIs are viral infections and are self-limited, you might only need at-home remedies to feel better until the virus passes:

Adjust the inside temperature and humidity- Keep it warm and use a cool mist humidifier or vaporizer to help ease your congestion and coughing.
Eat a healthy diet- Try chicken soup and other warm fluids to soothe your throat and loosen your congestion.
Stay hydrated- Water, juice, clear broth, or warm lemon water can help, and you should avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Rest- Stay home from work or school to rest and reduce the chance you will infect others.
Soothe your throat- Try lozenges or a salt-water gargle, one-half teaspoon of salt in a 4-to-8-ounce glass of warm water.
Take over-the-counter cold and cough medications- Decongestants such as Sudafed, Actifed oral, or Neo-Synephrine nasal can relieve nasal congestion, and antihistamines and pain relievers might offer other forms of relief.
Use saline nasal drops- These can help relieve nasal congestion.

Mobile care for URIs is both convenient and crucial in protecting you from complications that occur due to your infections. Mobile Care delivers exceptional treatment and prevention strategies to reduce the chances of your hospitalization.