Is a runny nose a respiratory infection?

Symptoms of an upper respiratory infection include: Runny nose. Nasal and head congestion. Sore throat.

What is the best medicine for sinus and chest congestion?

Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It works by thinning and loosening mucus in the airways, clearing congestion, and making breathing easier. Phenylephrine is a decongestant (sympathomimetic). It reduces nasal congestion by narrowing the blood vessels in the nose.

What are the symptoms of an upper respiratory infection?

Types of upper respiratory infection include the common cold (head cold), the flu, tonsillitis, laryngitis, and sinus infection. Of the upper respiratory infection symptoms, the most common is a cough. Other symptoms of upper respiratory infection may include stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, muscle aches, and headache.

What causes a runny nose and sore throat?

Other potential underlying causes of an infection include: 1 viral infections, such as herpes simplex or shingles 2 constant runny nose, usually due to allergies or a viral infection 3 upper respiratory infections

Where does a respiratory infection affect the body?

The body’s respiratory system includes the nose, sinuses, mouth, throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx), windpipe (trachea), and lungs. Upper respiratory infections affect the parts of the respiratory tract that are higher on the body, including the nose, sinuses, and throat, while lower respiratory infections affect the airways and lungs.

Can a dog have an upper respiratory infection?

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) Upper respiratory infections in dogs can affect the bronchi, trachea, throat, and nasal cavities, and are common, especially in dogs with compromised immune systems. Most dogs will have at least one upper respiratory infection in their lifetime.

Can a sinus infection be a sign of an upper respiratory infection?

For most people, upper respiratory infection symptoms start with a stuffy nose. But, of course, that’s also true for seasonal allergies—and sometimes for flu and a sinus infection as well. Because all of these conditions share a common symptom, you shouldn’t self-diagnose a cold based on nasal congestion alone.

Can a common cold cause an upper respiratory infection?

The common cold generally does not cause body aches, but influenza can. While the flu primarily infects the upper airway, it causes symptoms throughout the body that can include fever, chills, fatigue, and muscle aches. Sometimes flu gets into the lungs themselves to cause mild chest congestion and coughing.

Can a sinus infection cause an URI?

However, other types of infections can cause a URI too. Influenza, sinus infections, tonsillitis, and strep throat are just a few other types of upper respiratory tract infections. On the other hand, nasal allergies can look and feel like an infection, even though they are not.

When to see a doctor for an upper respiratory infection?

Children whose fever and symptoms do not clear up within a couple of days should see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment, if appropriate. The postnasal drip of a common cold can cause mild, non-productive coughing, which signals an upper respiratory tract infection.