Coughs and Colds
How does an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) differ
from bronchitis?
The two terms are actually very closely related. A URI
is an illness that has a constellation of symptoms associated with
it that include cough, fevers, nasal drainage, sore throat, and
body aches. Bronchitis also has a similar list of symptoms,
however the primary symptom is the cough.
How do I know if I am sick enough to require medical
care?
If you develop a persistent cough that is associated with
chest pain, shortness of breath, or unrelenting fevers, it may be
time to evaluate for pneumonia by performing a chest x-ray.
Pneumonia is differentiated from bronchitis in that there is a
consolidation in the lung of pus that will require antibiotics to
improve. The average URI last 10-14 days. If viral,
there is no medical therapy that will shorten this time-course,
however, there are medications that will alleviate some of the
symptoms.
How do I know if my illness is viral or
bacterial?
Nearly all URI's/bronchitis/sinusitis are viral and as such do
not require antibiotics. In most cases, an antibiotic will
only complicate the picture and create resistance to the bacteria
in the future making it more difficult to fight off illness.
How will I know if I truly have a sinus infection as
opposed to congestion?
Actual sinusitis is a bacterial infection of the
sinuses. However, the majority of patients that feel as if
they have a sinus infection simply have a viral illness affecting
their sinuses that will not respond to antibiotic therapy.
Science has revealed that in most otherwise-healthy individuals,
the sinuses do not become infected before approximately 10 days of
illness. If you have fever with significant pain in the
sinuses and green or yellow drainage, it is up to your physician's
discretion as to whether antibiotics might be effective for your
illness. In either case, decongestants and sinus irrigation
as
seen on the Oprah Winfrey show may be
helpful.
What can I do for my child who has a URI since there
has been all of the recent press about how the risk of treating a
child with over-the-counter cold medications exceeds the
benefit?
Unfortunately, there remains very little to do to help your
child if he/she develops a URI. Keeping your child
comfortable with either acetaminophen or ibuprofen will help.
A humidifier may loosen some of the congestion and help lubricate
the bronchial tree thus reducing coughing. Finally, keep your
child well-hydrated since poor oral intake is common when a child
does not feel well.