Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Part 1 Diagnosis, host defence and antimicrobials
- Part 2 Respiratory infections due to major respiratory pathogens
- Part 3 Major respiratory syndromes
- 17 Community-acquired pneumonias
- 18 Community-acquired fungal pneumonias
- 19 Hospital–acquired pneumonia
- 20 Anaerobic bacterial pneumonia, lung abscess, pleural effusion/empyema
- 21 Pneumonia in the immunocompromised host
- 22 HIV-associated respiratory infections
- 23 Infection in children
- 24 Pulmonary infection in cystic fibrosis
- 25 Upper respiratory tract infections
- 26 Respiratory infections associated with foreign travel
- 27 Intensive care management of the critically ill patient with pneumonia
- 28 Diseases associated with persistent or recurrent pulmonary infiltrates
- 29 Chronic air flow obstruction, acute and chronic bronchitis, and bronchiectasis
- 30 Miscellanous agents of pneumonia and lower respiratory tract infections
- Index
25 - Upper respiratory tract infections
from Part 3 - Major respiratory syndromes
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Part 1 Diagnosis, host defence and antimicrobials
- Part 2 Respiratory infections due to major respiratory pathogens
- Part 3 Major respiratory syndromes
- 17 Community-acquired pneumonias
- 18 Community-acquired fungal pneumonias
- 19 Hospital–acquired pneumonia
- 20 Anaerobic bacterial pneumonia, lung abscess, pleural effusion/empyema
- 21 Pneumonia in the immunocompromised host
- 22 HIV-associated respiratory infections
- 23 Infection in children
- 24 Pulmonary infection in cystic fibrosis
- 25 Upper respiratory tract infections
- 26 Respiratory infections associated with foreign travel
- 27 Intensive care management of the critically ill patient with pneumonia
- 28 Diseases associated with persistent or recurrent pulmonary infiltrates
- 29 Chronic air flow obstruction, acute and chronic bronchitis, and bronchiectasis
- 30 Miscellanous agents of pneumonia and lower respiratory tract infections
- Index
Summary
Introduction
This chapter describes infections which affect the upper respiratory tract from its origin in the nasal passages as far as the trachea. It covers the common cold, nasopharyngotonsillitis syndrome, epiglottitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, sinusitis, and otitis media. Particular emphasis is given to adults. Chapter 23 details respiratory tract infections in the paediatric group.
The common cold
The common cold (actually a collection of symptoms) is probably the most frequently encountered acute disabling illness (Table 25.1). Although self-limiting, tens of millions of school or working days in developed countries are sacrificed annually, self-medication with costly over-the-counter drugs is widespread despite lack of marked efficacy in many, physician visit time is enormous and abuse of antibiotic prescriptions common. It is estimated that most individuals have between two and ten colds per year, the frequency being twofold higher in children compared to adults, in women and in crowded environments.
Aetiology/pathology
The common cold is caused by a number of agents. The aetiological agents are, in 40% of cases rhinoviruses (>100 serotypes), coronaviruses (>three types) 15%, adenovirus (>30 serotypes), parainfluenza (four types), RSV (two types), influenza A, B and C and enterovirus/rubeola/rubella/varicella in up to 5% each. Presumptive but unknown viruses may be responsible for approximately one-quarter of cases of the common cold, whilst some bacteria, notably group A β-haemolytic Streptococcus may present with common cold symptomatology.
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- Infectious Diseases of the Respiratory Tract , pp. 453 - 485Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1998