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Respiratory infection
Respiratory infections are a collective term for infections in the nasal and oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea and bronchi. A distinction is made between upper and lower respiratory tract infections.
What is a respiratory infection?
Respiratory tract infection is an acute inflammation of the respiratory tract caused by bacteria or viruses. A distinction is made between upper and lower respiratory tract infections:
An upper respiratory tract infection is an infection of the nose, throat, ears and sinuses.
A lower respiratory tract infection is an infection of the trachea, bronchi and lung tissue.
Upper respiratory tract infections
Upper respiratory infections are another expression of a cold. The condition is caused by viruses that attack the nose and throat, and in most cases it is caused by a virus called rhinovirus.
Colds are very common, and are most frequent in spring and autumn. The disease affects all age groups, and children from 6 months to 3 years are particularly often affected. Adults normally have about 1-2 colds a year, while children have an average of 7-9 colds. The disease is contracted by rubbing the nose or eyes after direct contact or via droplets from sick people who cough or sneeze.
Symptoms of a cold
The first symptoms of upper respiratory infections are:
Sore throat
Laxity
Low-grade fever. Adults rarely have a fever with a cold, but young children often get a high fever.
After a few days these symptoms subside, but symptoms that occur within 24-48 hours after the onset of symptoms are:
Nasal congestion
Nasal secretion
Reap
The symptoms are most pronounced on day 3-4 and begin to disappear on day 7.
Treatment of colds
A cold goes away on its own, and usually no treatment is needed. There are no effective medicines against the common cold. Antibiotics cannot be used for colds either, as they have no effect against viruses.
Drink plenty of fluids and keep calm if your general condition is bad. At LenaPharm, however, there are medicines that can alleviate some of the symptoms:
Painkillers: Painkillers can be used for fever, pain and discomfort. Paracetamol and ibuprofen can be bought without a prescription at the pharmacy. Read more about painkillers and antipyretic medicine.
Nasal spray: Mucous decongestant nasal spray provides short-term relief from nasal congestion, and can improve night's sleep. See our nose and throat remedies.
Expectorants: In the case of expectorant coughs, expectorants can help to loosen and thin the mucus so that it becomes easier to cough it up.
Cough suppressants: In the case of a dry cough, cough suppressants can help suppress the cough reflex.
Throat lozenges: Throat lozenges can be used to relieve sore throats. Zyx lozenges are an over-the-counter medicine that also has a mild local anesthetic effect. See our throat tablets here.
