Respiratory Tract Infections

Asymptomatic carriage of M. pneumoniae common in children

The bacterium M. pneumoniae is carried at high rates in the upper respiratory tracts of healthy children and usual diagnostic tests cannot differentiate between such asymptomatic carriage and actual respiratory tract infect ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created May 14, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Flu and bacteria: Better prognosis for this potentially fatal combination

Scientists from the Max F. Perutz Laboratories (MFPL) of the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna have provided insights into how much harm bacteria can cause to the lung of people having ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Apr 26, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 1

Research suggests transmission of respiratory viruses in utero

The most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), can be transferred during pregnancy to an unborn baby, according to Cleveland Clinic Children's ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Apr 18, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Currently approved drugs found effective in laboratory mice against bioterror threats

In the most extensive screen of its kind, Texas Biomed scientists in San Antonio have demonstrated the feasibility of repurposing already-approved drugs for use against highly pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The pathogens ...

Medical research created Apr 09, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Better communication reduces prescriptions for antibiotics

(HealthDay)—Neither C-reactive protein testing nor enhanced physician communication training resulted in reduced office visits, but enhanced communication training resulted in less prescribing for antibiotics ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Apr 02, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Azithromycin may provide benefit for treatment of respiratory disorder

Among patients with the lung disorder non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, treatment with the antibiotic azithromycin resulted in improvement in symptoms but also increased the risk of antibiotic resistance, according to a ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Mar 26, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Common antibiotic linked to heart problems in patients with lung conditions

The antibiotic clarithromycin – widely used for treating lower respiratory tract infections like pneumonia and acute exacerbations (sudden worsening) of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – may be associated ...

Medications created Mar 21, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Researchers spot molecular control switch for preterm lung disorders

(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have made major discoveries that could lead to new treatments for lung disorders in premature babies. In a mouse study, the team located key molecules ...

Medical research created Mar 20, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Black children less likely to be prescribed antibiotics

(HealthDay)—Black children are less likely to be prescribed antibiotics and to be diagnosed with conditions that require antibiotics, even when treated by the same doctor, according to research published ...

Pediatrics created Mar 18, 2013 | popularity 3 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Outdoor heat increases risk of emergency respiratory hospitalization in elderly

Outdoor heat is associated with a significantly increased risk of emergency hospitalization for respiratory disorders in the elderly, according to a large epidemiological study of more than 12.5 million Medicare beneficiaries.

Health created Mar 08, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Study reveals UK's declining health performance compared to other high income countries over past 20 years

Six decades of universal free health care, the introduction of widespread public health initiatives (e.g., tobacco control, cancer screening, and immunization), and substantial increases in health expenditure have failed ...

Health created Mar 04, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Association found between length of biological marker and development of respiratory infection

Among healthy adults who were administered a cold virus, those with shorter telomere length (a structure at the end of a chromosome) in certain cells were more likely to develop experimentally-induced upper respiratory infection ...

Medical research created Feb 19, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Immune systems of healthy adults 'remember' germs to which they've never been exposed

It's established dogma that the immune system develops a "memory" of a microbial pathogen, with a correspondingly enhanced readiness to combat that microbe, only upon exposure to it—or to its components though a vaccine. ...

Immunology created Feb 07, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (13) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

FDA approves 3 new drugs for type 2 diabetes

(HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration late Friday approved three new medications to help people battle type 2 diabetes.

Medications created Jan 26, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 1

Fulyzaq approved for ART-related diarrhea in HIV/AIDS

(HealthDay)—The first medication to treat diarrhea in people with HIV/AIDS who take antiretroviral drugs has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Medications created Jan 03, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


Respiratory tract infection refers to any of a number of infectious diseases involving the respiratory tract. An infection of this type is normally further classified as an upper respiratory tract infection (URI or URTI) or a lower respiratory tract infection (LRI or LRTI). Lower respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, tend to be far more serious conditions than upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold.

This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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