Is acute upper respiratory infection a cold?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on September 08, 2024
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Acute upper respiratory infection, commonly referred to as the common cold, manifests suddenly in patients with symptoms including fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, and coughing. Some patients may also experience varying degrees of headache and dizziness. Generally, most cases of acute upper respiratory infections are caused by the entry of viruses into the respiratory tract, leading to these clinical symptoms. Therefore, in cases of urgent incidents where patients suddenly exhibit these clinical symptoms, it is crucial to promptly coordinate relevant examinations to determine the type of bacterial infection, followed by detailed symptomatic treatment. Typically, this approach can effectively control the symptoms caused by acute upper respiratory infections.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Can acute upper respiratory infections heal on their own?

Acute upper respiratory tract infection is clinically localized above the nasal cavity and pharynx. Symptoms typically seen in such patients include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itchy throat, and coughing. The onset is usually sudden, and some patients may experience sore throats, while others may have an itchy throat. In most cases, these infections are viral. For such patients, the course of the disease is about one week and is usually self-limiting. For elderly individuals or infants and young children, who are generally more frail, it is advisable to prescribe appropriate medications for symptomatic treatment when they contract an acute upper respiratory tract infection, to prevent the aggravation of symptoms and further discomfort.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Can acute upper respiratory infection cause diarrhea?

Acute upper respiratory infections, also known clinically as the common cold, can be categorized into several types, including bacterial and viral colds. Therefore, based on the different pathogens infecting the upper respiratory tract, the clinical symptoms exhibited by patients can vary significantly. Typically, patients with viral colds not only experience various clinical discomfort symptoms related to the upper respiratory tract but also suffer from varying degrees of gastrointestinal discomfort such as bloating, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. These symptoms indicate a gastro-intestinal type of cold. Hence, for patients with acute upper respiratory infections caused by viral infections, the presence of diarrhea and other related clinical symptoms is quite common. Timely antiviral and symptomatic treatment can alleviate the discomfort caused by the gastro-intestinal type of cold.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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The difference between acute upper respiratory tract infection and acute pharyngitis

The difference between acute upper respiratory infection and acute pharyngitis is actually a matter of the scope and extension of a concept. An upper respiratory infection refers to infections occurring in the nose, pharynx, and throat, collectively known as the upper respiratory tract. If this area is infected by some pathogenic microorganisms, leading to symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, and sore throat, we call it an acute upper respiratory infection. Acute pharyngitis specifically refers to the occurrence of inflammation in the pharynx following an infection, primarily presenting with sore throat or cough. This condition is called acute pharyngitis. From this perspective, acute pharyngitis is actually a specific type of acute upper respiratory infection. The main focus is still on distinguishing these diseases, giving special attention where necessary, such as providing specific treatment for pharyngitis, whereas a general cold medicine might suffice for an upper respiratory infection. Thus, there are certain distinctions between the two.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Can I eat beef with an acute upper respiratory infection?

Acute upper respiratory infections are usually caused by patients accidentally catching colds and contracting certain viruses or bacteria, leading to varying degrees of clinical symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, fever, and sore throat. For such patients, it is generally not recommended to eat beef. Although beef is highly nutritious, it tends to increase internal heat, especially in patients with heat-type colds. Eating beef at this time may cause the patient to experience increased fever, as well as worsening cough and sore throat symptoms. Therefore, it is suggested that patients with acute upper respiratory infections drink more water and consume more fresh vegetables and fruits to facilitate a quicker recovery.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Do you need to avoid certain foods with an acute upper respiratory tract infection?

Acute upper respiratory infection, commonly known as the common cold, typically manifests with varying degrees of nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, pain, fever, cough, and other clinical symptoms. In treating acute upper respiratory infections, particularly during the cold winter months, antiviral medications and drugs that clear heat and detoxify should be given as symptomatic treatment. Additionally, patients should be advised to drink more warm water and avoid consuming spicy, stimulating, or cold foods. Patients can appropriately consume liquid and light diets, and eat fresh vegetables and fruits which are rich in vitamins essential for the body. Increasing the intake of such foods can facilitate a quicker recovery from the illness.