Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

The distinction between upper respiratory tract infections and lower respiratory tract infections is generally based on the parts below the vocal cords, and the region below them is also called the lower respiratory tract. The parts above the vocal cords, namely the nose, throat and larynx, are also called the upper respiratory tract.

Pharyngitis

The most common of the upper respiratory tract infections is pharyngitis; in addition, tonsillitis and sinusitis may also be considered forms of pharyngitis. The symptoms caused by this disease are sore throat, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, and a feeling of irritation in the throat. The most common causes of pharyngitis include postnasal drip, nasal allergy, smoking, polluted air, laryngopharyngeal reflux (throat reflux), and poor oral hygiene. In its treatment, drinking plenty of water is most commonly recommended. Chewing gum, honey-based sprays and drinks, and honey-containing foods soothe the throat and may help pharyngitis. To prevent pharyngitis, smoking must definitely be stopped, treatment to reduce postnasal drip should be started, a healthy diet should be established, and if there is throat reflux, it must definitely be treated.

Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis presents with the sudden onset of sore throat, difficulty swallowing, weakness, fatigue, muscle pain, and high fever. To diagnose the disease, a swab sample is taken from the tonsils; if bacteria grow in the sample, the patient is treated with an effective antibiotic. However, sometimes bacterial growth may not be observed for various reasons. In this case, symptomatic treatment is given, and in addition to antibiotic therapy, corticosteroid treatment, painkillers, throat sprays, throat lozenges and plenty of fluids are occasionally recommended. Rest is as important as medication in tonsillitis; patients must definitely rest in bed. Since muscle and joint pain is one of the common symptoms of tonsillitis, patients may feel very severe weakness and fatigue. During treatment, patients may also have difficulty eating and drinking because of sore throat. Fluid loss may delay recovery. For this reason, ice cream, which also soothes difficulty swallowing, may be eaten especially during the summer months.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis is one of the most common infections seen among upper respiratory tract infections. Sinusitis can be divided into acute and chronic forms. Acute infection presents with sudden-onset headache, facial fullness, green nasal discharge, nasal congestion, postnasal drip, phlegm in the throat, cough and bad breath. In chronic sinusitis, however, there is persistent nasal congestion, headache, postnasal drip, and a decline in quality of life. Diagnosing sinusitis has become very easy today. The inside of the nose is examined with endoscopy, and the discharges inside the nose provide information on this. If endoscopic examination is not sufficient, the diagnosis is made with 100% certainty by computed tomography (CT) scan. The most common cause is nasal allergy, allergic rhinitis, which presents with nasal congestion, itching, discharge and loss of smell. Because allergy causes continuous secretion, allergic discharges block the openings of the sinuses and cause them to become inflamed. When mild congestion combines with allergy, it can quickly turn into sinusitis. Sinusitis can occur in every age group. Especially in children, since the sinuses are not fully developed, sinusitis seen in children is simply called rhinitis. People with allergies experience three times more nasal infections than people without allergies. Another important cause of sinusitis is a deviated nasal septum (bent bone inside the nose), enlargement of the nasal tissue, and nasal polyps that develop later, which may cause sinusitis. Sinusitis is primarily treated with medication. Surgical treatment options may also be considered for people who do not respond despite an adequate duration and dose of medication. Today, sinus surgery is a very safe and frequently performed operation and provides great relief to patients. Because the sinuses are surrounded by bone, medication alone may not be sufficient. For this reason, a simple day-case surgical procedure can be performed easily through the nostrils without any external incision.

Influenza (Flu)

Influenza (flu) is caused by viruses and most commonly peaks in the winter months. People with flu especially experience muscle and joint pain, fever, weakness, sore throat, nasal congestion, watery eyes, cough and sweating. You can also read our detailed article on cough in children that does not go away. In the treatment of flu, first, antiviral medication targeting influenza viruses is given. At the same time, bed rest, plenty of fluids, nasal decongestants, cough suppressants, syrups and throat lozenges are used. In some cases these treatments may not be sufficient, and the disease may spread from the upper respiratory tract, that is the nose and throat, down to the lungs and cause pneumonia. Flu virus can generally spread through close contact with other sick people; from children to mother or father, or from coworkers at the workplace, through public transport or crowded settings, it can spread via respiratory droplets.

Common Cold

The common cold presents a milder picture than flu. Its symptoms do not include muscle and joint pain, but mild fever may occur, along with nasal congestion, voice changes, weakness, and mild sore throat. The common cold is mostly caused by rhinoviruses. These viruses are not dangerous; they spread easily but do not follow a severe course. The body's immune system can easily destroy these viruses, and the disease resolves on its own.