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Symptoms and Home Remedies For Viral And Bacterial Respiratory Infections
By
Patricia | June 11, 2009
The respiratory tract has a moist lining on its inner walls. As the inhaled air comes to the respiratory tract, it carries a whole lot of infectious organisms and as such, infections of respiratory tract are quite common. These infections of the respiratory tract are caused by micro organisms, commonly bacteria and viruses. There can be various infections of respiratory tract which can be listed as follows:
Common Cold: Common cold is caused by a kind of virus named Rhinovirus, which is found in one hundred and fifty different varieties. As such, it is difficult to develop immunity against all these viruses and hence, common cold is one of the most common infections affecting the respiratory tract. It is characterized by a painful throat, running nose, and cough.
Bronchitis: It is caused by viruses. It is characterized by cough and fever. The ailment is commonly found in smokers.
Pneumonia: Pneumonia is a bacterial infection and is the most severe of all respiratory tract infections as it directly affects the lungs. Its symptoms include fever, cough, and chest pain.
Influenza: It is caused by a virus and shows symptoms like headaches, dry cough, fatigue, and muscle pain.
Acute Sinusitis: It is a bacterial infection and may be an aftermath of common cold. Its symptoms include running nose, toothache, fever, and pain below the eyes.
To cure an infection of the respiratory tract, it is necessary to find the nature of infection and accordingly administer treatment. Some home remedies to cure respiratory ailments and restore strength are:
- Maintain proper hygiene to avert the probability of aggravation of the ailment.
- A steam bath helps to clear germs in the body, especially in the respiratory tract.
- It is essential to boost the immune system. As such, you should eat a diet that strengthens the immune system. Do include a lot of vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and water in your diet. Avoid consuming alcohol, coffee, and sugar. Smoking is a strict no-no.
- Increase your intake of antioxidants like green tea, banana, papaya, and lettuce.
- Hot chicken soup can do wonders for a cold, and also helps to strengthen the body.
As respiratory tract infections are caused by micro organisms, antibiotics are highly effective in curing this affliction. Do consult a doctor to get antibiotic treatment. Bacterial infections can be cured by antibiotics, although they are not very effective for viral infections. As such, doctors may prescribe alternate medications to cure the ailment.