Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) is one of the medical conditions that most frequently occurs everywhere and has been around for a long period. There is a very low risk of it developing into a more serious case but people who have a compromised immune system may experience much harsher symptoms and more complications.
Upper respiratory tract infection usually manifests as colds. However, there are other illnesses which can be categorized under this general condition as well. Regardless of which, most types of URTI heal by its own and do not require urgent medical attention. Here are 10 most common signs and symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection.
1. Runny Nose
Most humans breathe an average of 20,000 breaths in a single day. This is probably the most essential function of the body as breathing allows the necessary oxygen to flow through the body as a supply and support for other minor and major duties of each system. Doing this more than a thousand times per day puts us at risk of inhaling pathogens that may infect or irritate our nasal passages.
When this happens, our body responds by producing mucus we often perceive as snot or colds. The mucus is responsible for eliminating these pathogens by flushing them out of the body. Therefore, having a runny nose is the most common symptom of upper respiratory tract infections.
