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Conditions
Respiratory tract diseases
Respiratory tract infections

Respiratory tract infections

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An infection of the upper or lower respiratory tract. Upper respiratory tract infections include the common cold, laryngitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis and otitis media. Lower respiratory tract infections include bronchitis, bronchiolitis, tracheitis and pneumonia. These infections can be caused by a virus, bacteria or fungus.

Dr. Henry Selke reviewed this

18 year experience in Internal Medicine - Infectious Disease

Is a type of:

Infection • Respiratory tract diseases

How long it usually lasts:

Short-term (lasts days to weeks)

How common it is:

Very common

Body locations

Chest

Types of

Pharyngitis
Condition
Upper respiratory infection
Condition
Common cold
Condition
Croup
Condition
Bronchitis
Condition
Load more

Symptoms

Fever
Productive cough
Dry cough
Chest congestion
Wheezing
Load more

Medications

Ratings show how effective doctors think these medications are at treating Respiratory tract infections
Oxymetazoline
3.5
6 reviews
Guaifenesin
2.8
17 reviews
Guaifenesin and dextromethorphan
2.8
17 reviews
Dextromethorphan
2.5
18 reviews
Ibuprofen
2.3
23 reviews
Load more

Procedures

Ratings show how effective doctors think these procedures are at treating Respiratory tract infections

Surgery

Nasal saline irrigation
3.1
8 reviews

Other treatments

Throat lozenges

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