What is respiratory infection?
An acute respiratory infection (ARI) is an illness in the respiratory tract that evolves in a period of less than 15 days and often develops into pneumonia. This infection is a major public health problem, as it is responsible for a large number of deaths. It is usually classified into three types according to the degree of complication:
- ARI without pneumonia
- ARI with mild pneumonia
- ARI with severe pneumonia
What are the symptoms of respiratory infection?
Symptoms depend on the type of infection:
- ARI without pneumonia: abundant fluid in the nose, cough, fever, otorrhea, sore throat, dysphonia, purulent exudate in the pharynx.
- ARF with mild pneumonia: above symptoms with tachypnea (increased respiratory rate above normal values).
- ARF with severe pneumonia: above symptoms with cyanosis (blue coloration of the skin), increased shortness of breath.
What are the causes of respiratory infection?
There are several factors that can cause a respiratory infection:
- Environmental: pollution, lack of ventilation in the home, passive smoking, places with high concentration of people, sudden changes in temperature, contagion.
- Individuals: age (affects more children under one year of age), lack of breastfeeding, low birth weight, previous infections, malnutrition, lack of vitamin A, lack of vaccinations.
Can respiratory infection be prevented?
To prevent respiratory infection, the following measures are recommended:
- Breastfeeding for the first four to six months.
- Monitor nutritional status
- Do not smoke around children
- Do not use braziers or burn wood in closed places.
- Dress warmly in cold weather
- Avoid sudden changes in temperature
- Eat foods with vitamins A and C
- Ventilate rooms
- Drink plenty of fluids
What is the treatment of respiratory infection?
Treatment is usually based on antibiotics and, if the infection is caused by a severe flu, antivirals. If the situation becomes very severe, oxygen therapy may also be given and, if there are complications, bronchodilator medication may be needed.