What are the various causes of upper respiratory infections, and what can be done about them?

Should you go high-tech (drugs, doctors, etc.), or stick with chicken soup, 7-Up, and orange juice? What about Vitamin C, zinc, echinacea, and other herbal remedies? Are they scientifically proven to actually help?

Most URIs are viral so antibiotics will not help. Viral URIs usually go away on their own with some rest, lots of fluids, tylenol for pain or fever. If you have a cough with green or yellow sputum and high fever then you should go to a doctor as it may be a bacterial infection in which case antibiotics are indicated.
I don't know of any studies as to the efficacy of herbal remedies although they probably can't do much harm as long as you don't go overboard with them.

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