Respiratory infection

Introduction to respiratory infection Respiratory infections are classified into upper respiratory tract infections and lower respiratory tract infections. Upper respiratory tract infection is a general term for acute inflammation from the nasal cavity to the throat and is the most common infectious disease. Lower respiratory tract infections are the most common infectious disease, and the pathogens that cause the infection must be identified to select effective antibiotics. About 90% of upper respiratory tract infections are caused by viruses, and bacterial infections are often secondary to viral infections. The disease can occur in all seasons and at any age, and spreads through droplets, mist droplets, or contaminated utensils containing viruses. Often when the body's resistance is reduced, such as cold, fatigue, rain, etc., viruses or / and bacteria that have existed or are invaded by the outside, rapidly grow and multiply, leading to infection. The disease has a good prognosis and is self-limiting. It usually heals in 5-7 days. Often secondary to bronchitis, pneumonia, paranasal sinusitis, a small number of people can be complicated by acute myocarditis, nephritis, rheumatic fever and so on. There are increasing clinically available antibiotics for lower respiratory tract infections, and drug-resistant strains are also increasing. Due to the application of high-dose cephalosporins, nosocomial infections, especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterococci infections are increasing. Advances in serological and molecular biology research have led to a significant increase in awareness of mycoplasma, chlamydia infections or Legionella infections. Fluoroquinolones and macrolides have attracted attention. basic knowledge The proportion of illness: 1% Susceptible people: no specific population Mode of infection: non-infectious Complications: pneumonia

Causes of respiratory infection

Virus infection (35%):

70% to 80% of upper respiratory tract infections are caused by viruses. These include rhinovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus, influenza and parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, echovirus, coxsackie virus and the like. Another 20% to 30% of the upper sense is caused by bacteria. Bacterial infection can be directly infected or secondary to viral infection, with hemolytic streptococcus as the most common, followed by Haemophilus influenzae, pneumococcus, staphylococcus, etc., or even Gram-negative bacteria.

External factors (30%):

Various causes of lowering the local defense function of the whole body or respiratory tract, such as cold, rain, climate change, excessive fatigue, etc., can cause the virus or bacteria that have existed in the upper respiratory tract or invaded from the outside to rapidly multiply, thereby inducing the disease. Old and young babies are weak, immunocompromised or susceptible to chronic respiratory disease.

Respiratory infection prevention

One of the effective ways to prevent upper respiratory tract infections in children is to improve the immunity of the child's respiratory tract and enhance the child's resistance to pathogens. The following measures can be taken:

1. Promote breastfeeding. Breast milk is the ideal natural food for babies and contains a variety of nutrients. Breast milk contains a large amount of immunoglobulins, immune cells, lysozyme, lactoferrin, etc., which helps to improve the anti-infective ability of infants. Especially the colostrum originally secreted after childbirth, rich in antibodies and trace elements, especially SIGA helps prevent respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Therefore, breast-fed children are generally less likely to have a cold.

2, physical exercise. Physical exercise is conducive to strengthening children's physique and improving their defense against disease. In addition to sports activities, you can also make full use of air, sunlight, and water for exercise; such as window-winding sleep, so that children inhale cold and fresh air, upper respiratory tract mucosa, increase the resistance of the respiratory tract. After the child is used to sleeping in the window, he can further sleep outdoors. Encourage your child to participate in outdoor activities and get more sun. Bathe with warm water, or wash your hands, wash your face, wash your feet, etc. with cold water. On this basis, gradually carry out three-bath (sunbathing, water bath, air bath) exercise to achieve better results.

3, increase nutrition to obtain a variety of essential nutrients to help improve the child's immunity. The body lacks trace elements of zinc or vitamin A, and children are prone to repeated respiratory infections. After appropriate dietary adjustment, increase the intake of trace elements zinc or vitamin A, or after treatment with zinc preparations and vitamin A pills, the immunity of these children can be significantly improved, and the incidence of respiratory infections is significantly reduced.

4, on time vaccination, such as: vaccination against measles, whooping cough, rubella, etc., can effectively improve the immunity of children with these respiratory infectious diseases, thereby cutting off the spread of these respiratory infectious diseases in the population.

Respiratory infection complications Complications pneumonia

Can be complicated by pneumonia.

Symptoms of respiratory infections Common symptoms Leukocytosis Repeated upper respiratory tract infection Upper respiratory tract catarrhal symptoms Infectious fever Respiratory obstruction

1. Acute onset.

2. Early pharyngeal discomfort, dry or sore throat, followed by sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, cough.

3. May be associated with headache, fever, hoarseness, fatigue, limb pain, loss of appetite.

4. The nose, throat and throat are obviously congested and edematous, and the submandibular lymph nodes are swollen and tender.

Respiratory infection check

Physical examination: pharyngeal congestion, tonsil redness, common white exudate in the sulcus, submandibular lymphadenopathy and other local inflammatory changes in the upper respiratory tract and ocular manifestations.

1. Blood picture White blood cell count and classification.

2. Chest X-ray examination to rule out lung disease.

3. Differential diagnosis and identification of acute infectious diseases such as measles, polio, encephalitis, meningitis, pneumonia, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and leptospirosis and other prodromal symptoms.

4. Etiology diagnosis depends on virus isolation, bacterial culture and serological examination.

Diagnosis and diagnosis of respiratory tract infection

diagnosis

According to medical history, clinical symptoms and laboratory tests such as: blood, virus isolation, bacterial culture and serological examination can be diagnosed.

Differential diagnosis

1, mainly to identify the common cold and bacterial lower respiratory tract infections.

2. The exudate of the tonsil, if it is fused into a piece, must be differentiated from the pharyngeal diphtheria.

3, attention to acute infectious diseases such as measles, poliomyelitis, encephalitis, meningitis, pneumonia, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and leptospirosis and other prodromal symptoms.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.