Upper respiratory tract infection medical therapy: Difference between revisions
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{{Upper respiratory tract infection}} | {{Upper respiratory tract infection}} | ||
{{CMG}} | {{CMG}} | ||
==Medical Therapy== | ==Medical Therapy== | ||
*Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Treatment comprises symptomatic support usually via analgesics for headache, sore throat and muscle aches. | *Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Treatment comprises symptomatic support usually via [[analgesics]] for [[headache]], [[sore throat]] and [[muscle aches]]. | ||
*There is no evidence to support the age-old advice to rest when you are sick with an upper respiratory illness. Moderate exercise in sedentary subjects with a URI has been shown to have no effect on the overall severity and duration of the illness. | *There is no evidence to support the age-old advice to rest when you are sick with an upper respiratory illness. Moderate exercise in sedentary subjects with a URI has been shown to have no effect on the overall severity and duration of the illness. | ||
*Getting plenty of sleep | *Getting plenty of sleep | ||
*Increasing fluid intake | *Increasing fluid intake | ||
*Antibiotics | *[[Antibiotics]] | ||
Judicious use of antibiotics can decrease unnecessary adverse effects of antibiotics as well as out-of-pocket costs to the patient. But more importantly, decreased antibiotic usage will prevent the rise of drug resistant bacteria, which is now a growing problem in the world. Health authorities have been strongly encouraging physicians to decrease the prescribing of antibiotics to treat common upper respiratory tract infections because antibiotic usage does not significantly reduce recovery time for these viral illnesses. | Judicious use of antibiotics can decrease unnecessary adverse effects of antibiotics as well as out-of-pocket costs to the patient. But more importantly, decreased antibiotic usage will prevent the rise of drug resistant bacteria, which is now a growing problem in the world. Health authorities have been strongly encouraging physicians to decrease the prescribing of antibiotics to treat common upper respiratory tract infections because antibiotic usage does not significantly reduce recovery time for these viral illnesses. | ||
*Decongestants | *Decongestants | ||
*Alternative medicine | *Alternative medicine | ||
**The use of Vitamin C | **The use of [[Vitamin C]] | ||
Judicious use of antibiotics can decrease unnecessary adverse effects of antibiotics as well as out-of-pocket costs to the patient. But more | Judicious use of [[antibiotics]] can decrease unnecessary adverse effects of antibiotics as well as out-of-pocket costs to the patient. But more importantly, decreased antibiotic usage will prevent development of [[drug resistance|drug resistant bacteria]], which is now a growing problem in the world. International, as well as local US health agencies, have been strongly encouraging physicians to decrease the prescribing of antibiotics to treat common upper respiratory tract infections because antibiotic usage does not significantly reduce recovery time for these viral illnesses.<ref name="urlAntibiotics for adults with acute laryngitis | Cochrane Summaries">{{cite web |url=http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004783.html |title=Antibiotics for adults with acute laryngitis | Cochrane Summaries |format= |work= |accessdate=}}</ref> | ||
Some have advocated a delayed antibiotic approach to treating URIs which seeks to reduce the consumption of antibiotics while attempting to maintain patient satisfaction. Most studies show no difference in improvement of symptoms between those treated with antibiotics right away and those with delayed prescriptions.<ref>http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004417.html Delayed antibiotics for symptoms and complications of respiratory infections</ref> Most studies also show no difference in patient satisfaction, patient complications, symptoms between delayed and no antibiotics. It should be noted that a strategy of "no antibiotics" results in even less antibiotic use than a strategy of "delayed antibiotics". Until more effective treatments are available to treat the common respiratory viruses responsible for the majority of cases, treatment of URIs with rest, increased fluids, and symptomatic care with over-the-counter medications will remain the treatment of choice. However, in certain higher risk patients with underlying lung disease, such as [[chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]] (COPD), evidence does exist to support the treatment of URIs with antibiotics to shorten the course of illness and decrease treatment failure.<ref>http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004403.html Antibiotics for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease</ref> | Some have advocated a delayed antibiotic approach to treating URIs which seeks to reduce the consumption of antibiotics while attempting to maintain patient satisfaction. Most studies show no difference in improvement of symptoms between those treated with antibiotics right away and those with delayed prescriptions.<ref>http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004417.html Delayed antibiotics for symptoms and complications of respiratory infections</ref> Most studies also show no difference in patient satisfaction, patient complications, symptoms between delayed and no antibiotics. It should be noted that a strategy of "no antibiotics" results in even less antibiotic use than a strategy of "delayed antibiotics". Until more effective treatments are available to treat the common respiratory viruses responsible for the majority of cases, treatment of URIs with rest, increased fluids, and symptomatic care with over-the-counter medications will remain the treatment of choice. However, in certain higher risk patients with underlying lung disease, such as [[chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]] (COPD), evidence does exist to support the treatment of URIs with antibiotics to shorten the course of illness and decrease treatment failure.<ref>http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004403.html Antibiotics for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease</ref> | ||
The use of [[ | The use of [[vitamin C]] in the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory infections has been suggested since the initial isolation of vitamin C in the 1930s. Several studies have failed to demonstrate that vitamin C supplementation reduces the incidence of colds in the normal healthy population, indicating that routine large dose prophylaxis with vitamin C is not beneficial in widespread community usage. Some evidence exists to indicate that it could be justified in persons exposed to brief periods of severe physical exercise and/or cold environments. The evidence does not support the use of vitamin C at the onset of colds as effective therapy.<ref>http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab000980.html Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{ | {{Reflist|2}} | ||
{{WH}} | |||
{{WS}} | |||
[[Category:Pulmonology]] | [[Category:Pulmonology]] | ||
[[Category:Needs overview]] | |||
Latest revision as of 00:34, 30 July 2020
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Upper respiratory tract infection Microchapters | |
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Differentiating Upper Respiratory Tract Infection from other Diseases | |
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Diagnosis | |
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Treatment | |
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Upper respiratory tract infection medical therapy On the Web | |
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Directions to Hospitals Treating Upper respiratory tract infection | |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Upper respiratory tract infection medical therapy | |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Medical Therapy
- Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Treatment comprises symptomatic support usually via analgesics for headache, sore throat and muscle aches.
- There is no evidence to support the age-old advice to rest when you are sick with an upper respiratory illness. Moderate exercise in sedentary subjects with a URI has been shown to have no effect on the overall severity and duration of the illness.
- Getting plenty of sleep
- Increasing fluid intake
- Antibiotics
Judicious use of antibiotics can decrease unnecessary adverse effects of antibiotics as well as out-of-pocket costs to the patient. But more importantly, decreased antibiotic usage will prevent the rise of drug resistant bacteria, which is now a growing problem in the world. Health authorities have been strongly encouraging physicians to decrease the prescribing of antibiotics to treat common upper respiratory tract infections because antibiotic usage does not significantly reduce recovery time for these viral illnesses.
- Decongestants
- Alternative medicine
- The use of Vitamin C
Judicious use of antibiotics can decrease unnecessary adverse effects of antibiotics as well as out-of-pocket costs to the patient. But more importantly, decreased antibiotic usage will prevent development of drug resistant bacteria, which is now a growing problem in the world. International, as well as local US health agencies, have been strongly encouraging physicians to decrease the prescribing of antibiotics to treat common upper respiratory tract infections because antibiotic usage does not significantly reduce recovery time for these viral illnesses.[1]
Some have advocated a delayed antibiotic approach to treating URIs which seeks to reduce the consumption of antibiotics while attempting to maintain patient satisfaction. Most studies show no difference in improvement of symptoms between those treated with antibiotics right away and those with delayed prescriptions.[2] Most studies also show no difference in patient satisfaction, patient complications, symptoms between delayed and no antibiotics. It should be noted that a strategy of "no antibiotics" results in even less antibiotic use than a strategy of "delayed antibiotics". Until more effective treatments are available to treat the common respiratory viruses responsible for the majority of cases, treatment of URIs with rest, increased fluids, and symptomatic care with over-the-counter medications will remain the treatment of choice. However, in certain higher risk patients with underlying lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), evidence does exist to support the treatment of URIs with antibiotics to shorten the course of illness and decrease treatment failure.[3]
The use of vitamin C in the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory infections has been suggested since the initial isolation of vitamin C in the 1930s. Several studies have failed to demonstrate that vitamin C supplementation reduces the incidence of colds in the normal healthy population, indicating that routine large dose prophylaxis with vitamin C is not beneficial in widespread community usage. Some evidence exists to indicate that it could be justified in persons exposed to brief periods of severe physical exercise and/or cold environments. The evidence does not support the use of vitamin C at the onset of colds as effective therapy.[4]
References
- ↑ "Antibiotics for adults with acute laryngitis | Cochrane Summaries".
- ↑ http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004417.html Delayed antibiotics for symptoms and complications of respiratory infections
- ↑ http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004403.html Antibiotics for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- ↑ http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab000980.html Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold