Upper Respiratory Infection
Alternate Names : URI
What are the treatments for the infection?
For URIs caused by a virus,
antibiotics are not helpful. Someone with a cold should remember that
antibiotics can cause more harm than good in these cases. In severe cases of
the flu,
antiviral medications such as rimantadine or oseltamivir may be given. For
bacterial infections such as bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics are given.
Other treatments may help relieve symptoms. Other over-the-counter and
prescription medications can be used for symptoms such as cough, fever, muscle
aches, runny nose, or stuffy nose.
A decongestant called phenylpropanolamine (PPA), found in many over-the-counter
cold remedies, has recently been linked to
strokes in young women. The Food and Drug Administation (FDA) has
requested that manufacturers stop producing medications containing PPA. In view
of the FDA's public health advisory, anyone who has products at home containing
phenylpropanolamine should discard them.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
All
medications have possible side effects. Common antibiotics can cause allergic
reactions, stomach upset, and
other
effects.
What happens after treatment for the infection?
Most people recover
completely within a few days. Having a URI usually doesn't prevent a person
from catching another URI in the future. If long-term effects such as kidney
damage occur from the URI, a person may need further treatment.
How is the infection monitored?
If symptoms continue to get
worse or fail to improve after several days, the healthcare provider should be
told. In severe cases, a person may need to be watched in the hospital for a
few days.
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