You start your day feeling normal, but as the hours tick by… Ahhhhhhhh-choo! You start to feel worse and worse. Your head feels fuzzy. Your nose is stopped up. Your throat is sore. Your mom’s voice nags in the back of your head, “honey, you really should be in bed!” There’s a good chance you’re suffering from a common condition called an upper respiratory infection (URI).
URIs are among the most common types of illnesses. But, do we really need to tell you that? You probably have at least one each year. In 2019 alone, there were over 17 billion recorded cases worldwide. But URIs are not one single illness, so let’s explore what they are, how to recognize them, and what you can do if you get sick.
What is an upper respiratory infection?
Take a minute, and (if you can) inhale a big breath, hold it for a second, and let it out with a big “whoooooo” sound. Your respiratory system includes your lungs, nose, mouth, throat, voice box, windpipe, and diaphragm. It’s all the body parts used to do that breathing activity you just did. It’s divided into the upper respiratory system, which includes the nose, nasal cavity, mouth, throat, and voice box, and the lower respiratory system, which primarily includes the windpipe and lungs.
An infection happens when a virus or bacteria enters and invades your respiratory tract. You might have touched an infected surface or shaken hands with an infected person, then touched your mouth or nose. There’s a reason why doctors, nurses and elementary teachers remind everyone in their midst to “wash your hands!” and “stop touching your face!” These infections are more common than infections in other parts of your body because of how exposed your mouth and nose are to the world around you. Your upper or lower respiratory systems can become infected, but LRIs (lower respiratory infections) are often more severe.
