Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

Upper respiratory tract infections (URI or URTI) are the illnesses caused by an acute infection which involves the upper respiratory tract: nose, sinuses, pharynx or larynx. This commonly includes: tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, otitis media, and the common cold.

Common URI terms are defined as follows:

  • Rhinitis - Inflammation of the nasal mucosa
  • Rhinosinusitis or sinusitis - Inflammation of the nares and paranasal sinuses, including frontal, ethmoid, maxillary, and sphenoid
  • Nasopharyngitis (rhinopharyngitis or the common cold) - Inflammation of the nares, pharynx,hypopharynx, uvula, and tonsils
  • Pharyngitis - Inflammation of the pharynx, hypopharynx, uvula, and tonsils
  • Epiglottitis (supraglottitis) - Inflammation of the superior portion of the larynx and supraglottic area
  • Laryngitis - Inflammation of the larynx
  • Laryngotracheitis - Inflammation of the larynx, trachea, and subglottic area
  • Tracheitis - Inflammation of the trachea and subglottic area

Read more about Upper Respiratory Tract Infection:  Signs and Symptoms, Cause, Prevention, Treatment, Epidemiology

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