4 Signs You Might Have a Respiratory Infection

Do you feel like you have been tired, coughing a lot, and have a runny or stuffy nose lately? These could be symptoms of common allergies, but they could also signal a respiratory infection. Respiratory infections are common, and our immune systems can battle them independently. However, certain respiratory infections cause life-threatening issues.

Hence, knowing the symptoms of respiratory infections and getting a diagnosis and treatment early on is critical for your health. Here are a few common signals of respiratory infections according to the experts in online medical consultation in Kansas.

Types of Respiratory Infections

Before we discuss the symptoms of respiratory infections discussing the types of respiratory infections is critical since the different types display different symptoms. Respiratory infections can be divided into two categories, upper respiratory infections and lower respiratory infections.

Some common upper respiratory infections include Tonsillitis, Sinusitis, Laryngitis, and the common cold, whereas lower respiratory infections include Pneumonia, Bronchitis, or Pneumonia. Moreover, flu can be categorized as an infection affecting the upper and lower respiratory tract.

4 Signs You Might Have a Respiratory Infection

Here are the top four common signs of a respiratory infection, according to expert virtual doctors:

High Fever

Whenever you develop an infection in any part of your body, your body may exhibit symptoms like a high fever that reads above 103 degrees. Therefore, high fever can be a common symptom accompanied by respiratory infections.

High fevers, when left untreated, can lead to dehydration, seizures, and delirium. Hence, you must consult an urgent care doctor online if you experience a persistent high fever.

Wet and Dry Cough

When you develop a respiratory infection, your sinus and nose produce excess mucus, which may drip down your throat and cause severe irritation leading to symptoms like a wet cough.

This cough may worsen at night since you lay down; the mucus may drain through your throat and block the upper airway leading you to cough even more. Moreover, individuals with respiratory infections like Bronchitis may also experience a dry cough.

A persistent cough that does not go away can also cause individuals with respiratory infections to develop a sore throat and several other uncomfortable symptoms. Therefore, if you have a dry or wet cough that won’t go away it is best to consult a virtual doctor to get a diagnosis and treatment.

Breathing Issues

Breathing issues are some of the most common symptoms of a respiratory infection since respiratory infections are accompanied by swollen or inflamed respiratory tracts, which can lead to obstructed breathing.

When this occurs, you may show symptoms of breathing quickly, weakly, or difficulty breathing properly. For example, individuals with Tonsillitis may experience symptoms of breathlessness which can interfere with their day-to-day lifestyle and also cause difficulty falling asleep.

When left untreated, such issues boost your chances of respiratory failure — a problem brought on by elevated levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. In certain patients, respiratory infections can lead to clogged airways and recurrent infections, which makes breathing even more difficult.

Chest Tightness and Pain

Most individuals link chest tightness or pain to cardiovascular diseases. Although this is true, many individuals with acute respiratory infections may also exhibit symptoms of chest discomfort.

Pneumonia patients have these symptoms in most cases since pneumonia is a lung infection, and stabbing or sharp pain in the chest is a common symptom of a lung infection. This pain may also worsen whenever you cough or breathe.

How to Diagnose Respiratory Infections?

The best way to diagnose respiratory infections is to contact your healthcare provider or schedule Dr. appointment online and discuss your symptoms with a professional. Once the healthcare provider has sufficient information, such as your medical history and symptoms, they will recommend a few tests that may help evaluate if you have a respiratory infection.

If your healthcare provider suspects you have a respiratory infection, they may recommend a few of the following tests:

Nasal swab (Medical staff insert a swab in your nose and send it for testing)
Lung CT scan
Lung function test (Helps doctors examine your lung health)
Lung X-ray
Sputum test (Patients submit a sample of their sputum for examination)
Throat swab (Medical staff insert a swab in your throat and send it for testing)

The results from these tests will help your healthcare provider determine the cause of these symptoms and recommend treatment accordingly. The treatment for most respiratory infections may involve a combination of Anti-viral, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory medications.

Bottom Line

Wet and dry cough, high fever, tightness of the chest, and breathing issues can all be signs of a respiratory infection. If you experience these symptoms, making a doctor’s appointment online to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment can help you stop the disease from worsening.