Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

Key facts

• An upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) affects the nose, throat, sinuses or larynx; most cases are viral and clear within a week or two on their own.
• Symptoms include sore throat, nasal congestion, cough and sometimes fever; viral and bacterial cases look similar.
• Viral URTIs do not respond to antibiotics, so care is rest, fluids and analgesics; a bacterial cause is more likely if symptoms are severe, last beyond ten days, or worsen after improving.
• Oral cephalosporins such as cefpodoxime are used for bacterial URTIs like strep throat and acute bacterial sinusitis.

When antibiotics come into the picture

Viral URTIs do not respond to antibiotics, so treatment targets symptom relief: rest, fluids and analgesics. A bacterial cause is more likely when symptoms are severe, persist beyond ten days, or worsen after an initial improvement, with streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat) and acute bacterial sinusitis the most frequent bacterial forms. Oral cephalosporins such as cefpodoxime cover the gram-positive organisms behind most throat and sinus infections while remaining reasonably well tolerated.

When to see a doctor

Seek medical attention if symptoms are not improving after about ten days, worsen after an initial improvement, or come with a high fever.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.