Upper respiratory infections

Upper respiratory infections are acute viral infections of the upper airway (often with sinusitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, and bronchitis). Causes include: Rhinovirus, Influenza virus, Coronavirus, RSV, Parainfluenza virus, Metapneumovirus, and Adenovirus. Allergic rhinitis causes similar symptoms.

CASES/YEAR
1,200,000,000 (US); 24,000,000,000 (Global)
CATEGORY
Person-To-Person
AGENT TYPE
Viruses
OTHER NAMES
URI; Acute viral rhinitis; Common cold;
ACUITY
Acute-Moderate
INCUBATION
12 hours to 5 days; Usually about 48 hours; [CCDM]
INITIAL SYMPTOMS
Rhinitis, often with pharyngitis and cough; [ABX Guide] Other symptoms are sneezing, lacrimation, and malaise lasting 2-7 days; [CCDM, p. 120]
PRECAUTIONS
Cover mouth when coughing and sneezing and good handwashing; [CCDM, p. 121]
COMMENTS
Fever is not common in children over three and rare in adults. [CCDM, p. 120] An acute viral infection of the upper airway (often with sinusitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, and bronchitis); Causes include: Rhinovirus, Influenza virus, Coronavirus, RSV, Parainfluenza virus, Metapneumovirus, and Adenovirus; Causes similar symptoms: allergic rhinitis; [ABX Guide] About 50% of common colds are caused by rhinoviruses (>100 serotypes). Temperature is usually normal. Purulent sputum is unusual with rhinovirus infections. Exacerbation of asthma and chronic bronchitis may occur. [Merck Manual, p. 1685] Conjunctivitis suggests adenovirus or enterovirus as the cause. Less than 2% of colds are complicated by sinusitis, otitis media, or pneumonia. [Harrison ID, p. 204]
DIAGNOSTIC
Rule out pneumonia, epiglottitis, "strept throat," parapharyngeal space infection, and thrush (HIV); No cultures needed for typical "colds"; [ABX Guide]
SCOPE
Global
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
  • >fatigue, weakness
  • >fever
  • >myalgia
  • E pharyngitis
  • E rhinitis
  • N headache
  • O conjunctivitis, acute
  • R cough
  • R wheezing
  • *pneumonia
ANTIMICROBIC

No

VACCINE

No

ENTRY
Inhalation, Skin or Mucous Membranes (Includes Conjunctiva)
SOURCE
Person-to-Person
RESERVOIR
Human
RISK FACTORS
TREATMENT
Symptomatic treatment; Antibiotics do not kill viruses;
DRUG LINK
Merck Manual: Common Cold
REFERENCES FOR CASES/YEAR
1. (US) 3-5.6 cases per person per year, higher in children; Adults have 3-4 cases per person per year. "Acute viral respiratory illnesses are among the most common of human diseases accounting for one-half or more of all acute illnesses." [Harrison ID, p. 774] Calculate: 4 x 300 million = 1.2 billion (US);
2. (Global) 1.2 billion x 20 = 24 billion;