What is respiratory problems?

Most adults and older children have several respiratory infections each year. Respiratory problems can be as minor as the common cold or as serious as pneumonia. They may affect the upper respiratory system (nose, mouth, sinuses, and throat) or the lower bronchial tubes and lungs.

Upper respiratory system

The upper respiratory system includes the nose, mouth, sinuses, and throat. When you have an upper respiratory infection, you may feel uncomfortable, have a stuffy nose, and sound very congested. Other symptoms include:

• Pain or pressure in the face.
• A runny or stuffy nose. It may lead to blocked nasal passages that cause you to breathe through your mouth.
• A sore throat.
• A raspy or hoarse voice (laryngitis).
• Feeling grouchy or restless, having a poor appetite, and being less active than usual.
• Coughing, especially when you lie down.
• Fever.

Lower respiratory system

The lower respiratory system includes the bronchial tubes and lungs. These types of problems are less common than ones in the upper respiratory system. But their symptoms are usually more severe.

Symptoms include:

• A cough that lasts through the day and night. It often brings up green, yellow, brown, or gray mucus (sputum) from the lungs.
• Fever. It may be high with some infections such as pneumonia.
• Difficulty breathing. You may notice:
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Wheezing.
  • Using the neck, chest, and belly muscles to breathe. This causes a "sucking in" between or under the ribs (retractions).
  • Flaring the nostrils when breathing.
• Chest pain with exertion or when you take a deep breath.

Respiratory problems may have many causes.

Viral infections

Viral infections are the most common cause of upper respiratory symptoms. Symptoms often come on quickly (over hours to a day or two) without prior illness. Common viral illnesses include colds and influenza (flu).

• Colds are minor upper respiratory illnesses. They usually go away without treatment. Symptoms may include a cough, a mild sore throat, nasal congestion, a runny nose or sneezing, and sometimes a fever.
• Influenza (flu) symptoms are usually more severe than a cold. Symptoms in adults include a fever and body aches. A headache, eye pain, muscle aches, and a cough are also common.

Antibiotics aren't used to treat viral illnesses. They don't change the course of viral infections. Using an antibiotic when you don't need one exposes you to the risks of an allergic reaction and antibiotic side effects. These side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, and yeast infections. Antibiotics also may kill helpful bacteria and encourage the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Bacterial infections

Bacterial infections are less common than viral illnesses. They may affect the upper or lower respiratory system. In the upper respiratory system, the most common sites of bacterial infections are the sinuses and throat. In the lower respiratory system, the most common site is the lungs (pneumonia).

Bacterial infections are more common in people who smoke, are exposed to secondhand smoke, or have chronic lung disease (such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]) and other chronic medical problems. Antibiotics work well to treat most bacterial infections.

Allergies

Allergies, especially hay fever, are another common respiratory problem. Symptoms include sneezing, clear runny drainage from the nose and eyes, itchy eyes or nose, and stuffy (congested) ears and sinuses. The symptoms of allergies often last longer than a typical viral respiratory infection.

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory system. It causes inflammation and narrowing in the tubes that carry air to the lungs (bronchial tubes). The inflammation leads to coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest, and trouble breathing.

Asthma often starts during childhood. It may last throughout a person's life. The cause isn't clearly known. Asthma is more common in people who also have allergies.