A diagnosis of respiratory tract infection (RTI) is important to prevent further complications and to treat it quickly. Physicians need to have a solid understanding of the pathophysiology of this infection and the immune system to correctly diagnose the disease. Their knowledge of the clinical syndrome, the patient’s physical characteristics, and the context in which the illness occurs guides them through the evaluation process. A physician’s evaluation will include a thorough physical examination, laboratory testing, and acquisition of ancillary data. This chapter introduces several concepts regarding RTIs, with an emphasis on the clinical aspects of the condition.
Symptoms
Symptoms of respiratory infections can include cough, fever, and a fever. In rare cases, the patient may also experience myalgias or gastrointestinal complaints. Diarrhea is usually associated with adenoviral pneumonia, but not with Legionella pneumonia. In addition to cough and fever, M. pneumoniae infection may present with diarrhea. There are no clinical signs that reliably distinguish this infection from other types of pneumonia.
Different types
Different types of respiratory infections can cause a number of different symptoms. Some of the most common are a cough and a fever, while others can affect the lungs and sinuses. The most important thing to do is to protect yourself from these conditions. To do this, you should understand how the infectious agents spread. If you touch someone with a cough or cold, you may be passing on the germs. This is why avoiding respiratory diseases is so crucial.
