Upper respiratory infection

Background

• Rhinovirus is most common cause
  • Other causes include: coronavirus, adenovirus.

Clinical Features

• Common cold
  • Sore throat
  • Malaise
  • Low-grade fever
  • Cough (usually 24-48 hrs later)
  • Rhinorrhea
  • Nasal congestion
  • Sx peak by day 3 or 4, resolve by day 7

Differential Diagnosis

• Bronchitis
• Cough
• Influenza
• Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Diagnosis

• Clinical diagnosis.
• Rule out other serious causes

Management

• Supportive care
  • Antibiotic use not recommended unless bacterial source suspected
  • Mucolytics: little evidence to support usage
  • Bronchodilators if wheezing present

References

• Tallman TA. Acute Bronchitis and Upper Respiratory Tract Infections. In: Tintinalli JE, Stapczynski J, Ma O, Cline DM, Cydulka RK, Meckler GD, T. eds. Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2011