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Upper Respiratory Infections (URIs)

Upper respiratory infections, commonly known as URIs, or the common cold, are usually caused by a viral infection of the nose, sinuses, and/or throat.  URIs in the United States are more common in the winter months from September to April, partially due to more time spent indoors with others carrying the virus and a general drop in the air’s humidity.  Although most URIs do not cause serious health problems on their own, they sometimes may serve as a pathway to more threatening infections. 

What are the signs and symptoms of URIs?

Symptoms of URIs usually last 10-14 days with the average being 7-11 days.  Common signs and symptoms of URIs are:

• Cough
• Sore throat
• Nasal symptoms (running nose, congestion, inability to breathe through nose)
• Fever
• Headache
• Swelling of the sinuses
• Muscle aches

What are the causes of URIs?

URIs can be caused by more than 200 different types of viruses.  You can contract a virus by touching surfaces that have the virus on them and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.  Infection can also occur by inhaling drops of mucus containing the virus in the air.  You are most contagious 2-4 days after symptoms first appear and remain contagious for up to 3 weeks.  Cold weather, exercise, and diet are not factors in developing URIs. You may be more likely to develop an upper respiratory infection if:

• You are a smoker
• You are experiencing mental and/or physical stress
• You are not getting adequate sleep

Treatment

There is no specific “cure” for most URIs, including the common cold.  Nonprescription medications don’t prevent you from contracting a URI, nor can they shorten the duration of a URI once you are infected.  Antibiotics should not be taken for URIs because they do not kill viruses. Taking vitamin C or echinacea have not been confirmed as effective treatments by scientific research.

Medications such as decongestants and cough suppressants can be helpful in alleviating symptoms and should be taken as recommended by your health care provider or the product itself.  Nonprescription antihistamines may also provide (some) relief from symptoms such as runny nose and watery eyes if you also are suffering from allergies.  You can help relieve symptoms by:

• Getting plenty of rest and sleep
• Drinking plenty of fluids
• Using throat sprays, lozenges, or gargling with warm salt water for a sore throat
• Rinsing saline through the nasal passages
• Eating chicken noodle soup.  It has been shown to help alleviate symptoms through working as a decongestant, supplying fluids, and possibly fighting inflammation.
• Taking Ibuprofen or acetaminophen for headache or fever
• Taking other nonprescription drugs such as decongestants and nasal sprays correctly to alleviate other symptoms

For additional treatment information on alleviating specific symptoms, see the “Common Cold Treatment” link under additional resources.

Self care and prevention

There are many strategies you can employ to help prevent getting the common cold:

• Washing your hands frequently with soap and water
• Disinfecting commonly used objects such as telephones and stair railings, and remembering to wash your hands after using these objects
• Keeping your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth; particularly if you have not washed them recently
• Avoiding close contact with people who have URIs
• If you have a URI yourself, avoiding close contact with others
• If you sneeze or cough, covering your nose or mouth and politely asking others with URIs to do so.  Remember to wash your hands afterward.

When should I see a health care provider?

URIs can occasionally lead to bacterial infections of the ear, sinuses, or lungs.  You should contact your health care provider for advice if you have:

• High fever
• Severely swollen glands
• Severe sinus pain
• Shortness of breath
• Sleepiness or confusion
• Earache that gets worse
• Predispositions to complications such as lung problems, asthma, or a disease which affects your body’s ability to fight infection

Additional resources

Information for children, teens, and parents respectively on URIs, or the common cold:

Chilling Out with Colds (KidsHealth)

Coping with Colds (Nemours Foundation)

Infections: Common Cold (Nemours Foundation)

Common Cold Treatment (Hall Health)

Citations

Common Cold Index.  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Website. October 18, 2006.  Available at: http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/healthscience/healthtopics/colds/.  Accessed March 14, 2007.

The Common Cold: What You Should Know.  American Academy of Family Physicians. February 15, 2007.  Available at:  http://www.aafp.org/afp/20070215/522ph.html.  Accessed March 14, 2007.

Infections, Common Cold.  Nemours Foundation.  November 2004.  Available at:  http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/common/cold.html.  Accessed March 14, 2007

Common Cold.  National Library of Medicine.  March 6, 2007.  Available at:  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000678.htm.  Accessed March 14, 2007.

Common Cold.  Mayo Clinic.  Jan 27, 2007.  Available at:   http://mayoclinic.com/health/common-cold/DS00056.   Accessed March 14, 2007.

Common Cold.  University of Maryland Medical Center. June 2003.  Available at:  http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsConditions/CommonColdcc.html.  Accessed March 14, 2007.

Care for Upper Respiratory Infections.  Dartmouth’s College Health Service.  December 2006.  Available at:  http://www.dartmouth.edu/~health/resources/uri.html.  Accessed March 14, 2007.

Authored by: Jeff Stallman, Peer Health Educator
Reviewed by: Kevin Carrabine M.N., A.R.N.P.: Family Nurse Practitioner
Last updated: 4/26/07
Last reviewed: 10/08