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Respiratory Tract Infections
Published in Charles Theisler, Adjuvant Medical Care, 2023
Most upper respiratory infections (URIs), such as the common cold or pharyngitis, are of viral etiology. Epiglottitis and laryngotracheitis (croup) are exceptions, with severe cases likely caused by Hemophilus influenzae type b. Bacterial pharyngitis is often caused by Streptococcus pyogenes.1
Methods in exercise immunology
Published in R. C. Richard Davison, Paul M. Smith, James Hopker, Michael J. Price, Florentina Hettinga, Garry Tew, Lindsay Bottoms, Sport and Exercise Physiology Testing Guidelines: Volume I – Sport Testing, 2022
Nicolette C. Bishop, Neil P. Walsh
Table 15.6.1 summarises an example of a completed Jackson questionnaire and associated scoring. Jackson’s criteria for a common cold included a total symptom score of ≥14 during the 6-day monitoring period and a ‘yes’ answer to the dichotomous question, ‘do you think you are suffering from a common cold?’ For the early detection of a common cold, a total symptom score of ≥6 on 2 consecutive days (equating to three moderate or two severe symptoms each day) and a ‘yes’ answer to the dichotomous question is a reasonable practical recommendation. Common cold duration is recorded as the number of consecutive days with total symptom score ≥6; peak symptom severity and total symptom score for each episode are also frequently reported. The International Society of Exercise Immunology Consensus Statements provide important guidance for exercise both during and after respiratory infection (Walsh et al., 2011a; Bermon et al., 2017).
Antiviral Agents and Rational Drug Design
Published in Nathan Keighley, Miraculous Medicines and the Chemistry of Drug Design, 2020
Occasionally, and mistakenly, the terms ‘flu’ and ‘cold’ are used interchangeably, example the severe disease called ‘man flu’. Note that the common cold is caused by a different kind of virus to influenza, called rhinoviruses, so different therapeutic agents are required to combat colds. Human rhinoviruses are among the smallest animal RNA viruses, containing a single strand of positive RNA enveloped by an icosahedral capsid composed of 60 protein units of which there are four distinct types. The structure of the influenza virus is very different.
COVID-19 treatments approved in the European Union and clinical recommendations for the management of non-hospitalized and hospitalized patients
Published in Annals of Medicine, 2022
Although vaccines are the most important public health tool in overcoming the pandemic, effective medicines against SARS-CoV-2 infection are essential to reduce the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. COVID-19 has been recognized as a multisystem disorder affecting many body systems; this wide spectrum of clinical patterns made difficult an appropriate choice of treatments able to counteract severe symptoms of the disease and alleviate the burden on the healthcare system. To this aim, different drug classes, including antivirals, immune modulators, anti-inflammatory agents, and anticoagulants have been tested in patients with COVID-19, although disappointing results or no firm conclusions have been drawn in some cases. Indeed, at the early stage of the epidemic, empirical treatments were based on previous experience with the middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus and on the accumulated experience in managing the disease [22]. Basic therapeutic approaches used for the common cold (i.e. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-tussive, immune modulators with antibacterial effect) were considered effective in case of mild symptoms and further treatment was not required in the absence of any other clinical manifestations. In the case of pneumonia, it had been recommended to apply the treatment regimen able to prevent cell exposure to the virus and abate the excessive immune reactions (i.e. antiviral agents and immune modulators). In addition to this treatment strategy, anticoagulants could be used.
Effect of fermented milk on upper respiratory tract infection in adults who lived in the haze area of Northern China: a randomized clinical trial
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2021
Hong Zhang, Junli Miao, Miya Su, Bryan Y. Liu, Zhenmin Liu
Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) is the most frequent illness in humans (Heikkinen and Ruuskanen 2006; Jespersen et al. 2015; Martineau et al. 2017). It can happen at any time but is most common in the fall and winter. Despite the benign nature of the disease, URTI causes a substantial economic burden on society in terms of medications, visits to physicians, and absenteeism (Heikkinen and Ruuskanen 2006). In addition to the common cold symptoms, such as a runny nose or plugged nose, sneezing, sore throat, itchy throat, cough, hoarseness, and head congestion, influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms including headache, body aches, and fever are also commonly observed in URTI patients (Barrett et al. 2009). Most URTIs are caused by viruses and are self-limited, so antibiotics are rarely needed for their treatment unless bacterial complications occur (Heikkinen and Ruuskanen 2006).
Adolescents’ misperceptions and low literacy associated with the inappropriate use of over-the-counter cold medicines
Published in Journal of Substance Use, 2020
Tzu-Chueh Wang, Fong-Ching Chang, Chun-Hsien Lee, Hsueh-Yun Chi, Li-Jung Huang, Chie-Chien Tseng
The common cold is prevalent among both children and adults and the impact it can exert on productivity, absenteeism, and daily life can result in a substantial burden to both individuals and society (Dicpinigaitis, Eccles, Blaiss, & Wingertzahn, 2015). The common cold is an acute upper respiratory tract infection that generally includes symptoms such as a sore throat, nasal congestion, a runny nose, a cough, and malaise (Blaiss, Dicpinigaitis, Eccles, & Wingertzahn, 2015). Most over-the-counter (OTC) cough/cold medicines are multiple-ingredient combination products that contain antihistamines, decongestants, antitussives, and pain medicine. The misuse and overuse of OTC medications have been associated with adverse drug events (Mhatre & Sansgiry, 2015). In Taiwan, a study showed that three quarters of Adverse Drug Event (ADE)-related Emergency Department (ED) visits were preventable, while the most common cause was unintentional overdose (Chen et al., 2012).