Respiratory Infections

RTIs (respiratory tract infections) are infectious disorders that affect the respiratory system. This type of infection is usually classed as either an upper respiratory tract infection (URI or URTI) or a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) (LRI or LRTI). Lower respiratory infections, like pneumonia, are much more serious than upper respiratory infections, like the common cold. In clinical medicine, respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are one of the most prevalent and serious illnesses. Acute respiratory infections (ARI) account for the majority of antibiotic drugs prescribed, 20% of all medical consultations, and over 30% of lost work days in developed countries. The situation is considerably more dire in underdeveloped nations, where ARI is responsible for approximately 20% of death in children under the age of five. When a patient is suspected of having a respiratory infection, thinking about the symptoms in order might assist narrow the differential diagnosis and speed up specific diagnosis and treatment. The first step is to have a fundamental grasp of respiratory pathophysiology and how the innate and acquired immune systems interact with microbial infections.