Upper respiratory tract infection is an acute infection which causes mostly by virus and bacteria.

It causes inflammation of nose and throat. It involves nose obstruction, cold, pharyngitis/tonsillitis (infection of the tonsil with tissue at the back of throat and otitis media (infection of ear).  Small children easily catches the infection as they have low immunity than adults.

Causes:

In small children, influenza, Rhinovirus and coronavirus causes URTI. parainfluenza, adenovirus and respiratory syncytial causes colds but also causes pneumonia in small children. These viruses are very contagious and easily get spread from person to person. Children catch URTI easily as they have low immunity and also put fingers in mouth most of the time. Small children get infected when the secretion from the infected person, came in contact with them. Small children if touch their nose and eyes after touching infected secretion causes URTI in them.

Risk factors:

  • Poor hand washing after meeting with URTI infected person
  • Low immunity
  • Crowdie places where URTI infected persons are also present.
  • Close contact with children in day care centers, schools, playgrounds etc.
  • Anatomical abnormalities like facial trauma, nasal polyps,
  • In adults additional risk factors are smoking, immune-compromised situation like HIV, organ transplant, long term use of steroid, health care facilities and nursing homes.

Symptoms:

When virus enter in the cells of respiratory tract, it causes inflammation which leads to inflammation and secretion of excessive mucus. It leads to symptoms like nasal congestion, scratchy throat, cough, runny nose. Fever along with temperature like 38.9 degree Celsius. Sometimes temperature of child may get rise up to 40 degree Celsius. Children may face cough problems up to 2 weeks after infection get resolved also.

URTI have typical symptoms of general feeling of illness, decrease in appetite, body pain, headache, restlessness and irritability.

The most common complaints for cold are:

  • Nasal congestion
  • Low grade fever
  • Soreness in throat
  • Cough
  • Sneezing
  • Runny nose (increased mucus production)
  • Nasal and sinus blockage (thick mucus and debris)
  • Headache

Complications of URTI in small children:

  • Sinusitis and chest infection in older children
  • Otitis media means ear infection in smaller children
  • In babies- chest infection or bronchitis
  • Increased cough and wheeze may worsen asthma symptoms
  • Pneumonia in rare cases

 

Homeopathy treatment:

URTI is one of the most common medical condition to visit to healthcare providers. Many people take anti-allergic medicine, decongestant nasal sprays. But these treatments have their own side effects and also they causes dependency on medicine with increasing dose with each treatment.

Homeopathy other hand is very safe to induced. Along with time period homeopathy medicine decrease the intensity of symptoms and frequency of symptoms along with duration of attacks of infection. It cures URTI permanently.  As homeopathy prescription is based on characteristic symptoms of individual. Homeopathy treatment based on patient’s causes of the infection, triggering factor, patient’s individual symptoms and concomitant symptoms.

Homeopathy medicine:

In homeopathy there are more than 150 medicines for URTI.

Following are some list of medicines

  • Antim tart
  • Bryonia
  • Pulsatilla
  • Calcarea carb
  • Kali bichromicum.

*note: self medication is strictly prohibited.