Upper respiratory tract infection: Difference between revisions

{{refimprove| section|reason=this source only addreses rhinovirus in children|date=December 2016}}

[[Sexually transmitted infection]]s have emerged as causes of oral and pharyngeal infections.<ref name = cdcoro2016> {{cite web | title = Human papillomavirus (HPV) and Oropharyngeal Cancer, Sexually Transmitted Diseases | publisher = Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

There is low or very-low quality evidence that [[probiotics]] may be better than placebo in preventing acute URTIs.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Hao |first=Q |author2=Dong, BR |author3=Wu, T |title=Probiotics for preventing acute upper respiratory tract infections|journal=Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online)|date=3 February 2015 |volume=9|pages=CD006895|pmid=25927096|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD006895.pub3|editor1-last=Dong|editor1-first=Bi Rong |issue=9}}</ref> Vaccination against [[influenza vaccines|influenza viruses]], [[adenovirus vaccine|adenoviruses]], [[measles]], [[rubella]], ''[[pneumococcal vaccine|Streptococcus pneumoniae]]'', ''[[Hib vaccine|Haemophilus influenzae]]'', [[diphtheria vaccine|diphtheria]], ''[[anthrax vaccines|Bacillus anthracis]]'', and ''[[pertussis vaccine|Bordetella pertussis]]'' may prevent them from infecting the URT or reduce the severity of the infection.{{cncitation needed|date=December 2016}}

*Use shortest effective course: Should see improvement in 2-32–3 days. Continue treatment for 7 days after symptoms improve or resolve (usually a 10 - 14 day course).

Treatment comprises symptomatic support usually via [[analgesics]] for headache, sore throat and muscle aches.<ref>{{cite web|title=Common Cold: Treatments and Drugs|publisher=Mayo Clinic|url=http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/common-cold/DS00056/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs|accessdate=9 January 2010}}</ref> Moderate exercise in sedentary subjects with naturally acquired URTI probably does not alter the overall severity and duration of the illness.<ref name="pmid12893713">{{cite journal |vauthors=Weidner T, Schurr T |title=Effect of exercise on upper respiratory tract infection in sedentary subjects |journal=Br J Sports Med |volume=37 |issue=4 |pages=304–6 |date=August 2003 |pmid=12893713 |pmc=1724675 |doi= 10.1136/bjsm.37.4.304|url= }}</ref> No randomized trials have been conducted to ascertain benefits of increasing fluid intake.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Guppy |first1=MP |last2=Mickan |first2=SM |last3=Del Mar |first3=CB |title="Drink plenty of fluids": a systematic review of evidence for this recommendation in acute respiratory infections |journal=BMJ |date=28 February 2004 |volume=328 |issue=7438 |pages=499-500499–500 |pmid=14988184 |pmc=351843 |doi=10.1136/bmj.38028.627593.BE }}</ref>

According to a Cochrane review, single oral dose of nasal decongestant in the common cold is modestly effective for the short term relief of congestion in adults; however, "there is insufficient data on the use of decongestants in children." Therefore, decongestants are not recommended for use in children under 12 years of age with the common cold.<ref name="spurling2013" /> Oral decongestants are also contraindicated in patients with [[hypertension]], [[coronary artery disease]], and history of bleeding [[stroke]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last=Tietze |first=KJ |chapter=Disorders related to cold and allergy |editor-last=Berardi |editor-first=Rosemary R. |title=Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs |edition=14th |location=Washington, DC |publisher=American Pharmacists Association |date=2004 |oclc=56446842 |isbn=978-1-58212-050-8 |pages=239-269239–269 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |chapter=Common cold |editor-last=Covington |editor-first=Timothy R. |title=Nonprescription Drug Therapy: Guiding Patient Self-care |edition=1st |location=St Louis, MO |publisher=Facts & Comparisons |date=2002 |oclc=52895543 |isbn=978-1-57439-146-6 |pages=743-769743–769 }}</ref>

There is no good evidence supporting the effectiveness of over-the-counter [[Cough medicine|cough medications]] for reduce coughing in adults or children.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Smith|first=Susan M.|last2=Schroeder|first2=Knut|last3=Fahey|first3=Tom|date=2014-11-24|title=Over-the-counter (OTC) medications for acute cough in children and adults in community settings|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25420096|journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|issue=11|pages=CD001831|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD001831.pub5|issn=1469-493X|pmid=25420096}}</ref> Children under 2 years old should not be given any type of cough or cold medicine due to the potential for life threatening side effects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/SpecialFeatures/ucm263948.htm|title=Special Features - Use Caution When Giving Cough and Cold Products to Kids|last=Research|first=Center for Drug Evaluation and|website=www.fda.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-01-23}}</ref> In addition, according to the  [[American Academy of Pediatrics]],  the use of  cough medicine to relieve cough symptoms should be avoided in children under 4 years old, and the safety is questioned for children under 6 years old.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Goldsobel|first=Alan B.|last2=Chipps|first2=Bradley E.|date=2010-03-01|title=Cough in the pediatric population|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20176183|journal=The Journal of Pediatrics|volume=156|issue=3|pages=352–358|doi=10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.12.004|issn=1097-6833|pmid=20176183}}</ref>