Respiratory tract infections

We have discussed in class this week upper and lower respiratory tracts, and there is a lot of information involved while studying for those diseases. I have found some tables and pictures that some of us might find useful.

A fun fact about upper respiratory tract infections is that they are the most common infectious causing illness in the general population and they are the leading reasons for people missing work or school, and the leading acute diagnosis in the office setting.

Disease Location	Disease		Group of Pathogen	Comments
Upper respiratory tract
Nasal passages	Common cold		Viruses	Most common cause rhinovirus
Nasal sinuses	Rhinosinusitis		Viruses Bacteria	Viruses are most common cause of rhinosinusitis
Pharynx	Pharyngitis		Viruses  Streptococcus pyogenes and Corynebacterium diphtheriae	Viruses cause 90% of these infections
Respiratory airways
Epiglottis		Epiglottitis	Bacteria	Usually Haemophilus influenzae type b
Trachea and bronchi		Bronchitis, tracheobronchitis, croup, laryngitis	Viruses	Usually caused by viruses
Bronchioles		Bronchiolitis	Viruses	Most common cause is respiratory syncytial virus
Lower respiratory tract
Alveoli and alveolar sacs		Pneumonia	Bacteria	Most common cause in adults is Streptococcus pneumoniae

And this schematic might simplify some of the pathogens that do cause the various diseases.

 

http://www.atsu.edu/faculty/chamberlain/Website/lectures/lecture/introurt.htm