What is the nature of respiratory tract infections?

I'm not sure what you mean by "nature" of RTI but I'll do my best. RTI is a term used for any infection that affects the respiratory tract - being the nose, throat, bronchi and lungs. Upper RTI is what you would call a "head cold", bunged nose, sinuses, sore throat, etc. Sometimes the eucasian tube gets blocked. That is a drain tube which joins your inner ear to the top of your nose. It allows air pressure to equalise in your inner ear and if it blocks you can feel as though you've gone deaf in one or both ears. Lower RTI is more of a chesty cough, when you get phlegm, coughing and wheezing. It is an infection affecting the lower part of the respiratory system, mainly the larynx (lower throat), bronchus and lungs.

RTI will usually be a short lived infection, but can be acute (severe and sudden) or chronic (long term). Regular RTI's are classified as COPD/COAD (chronic obstructive pulmonary/airway disease). This is common in smokers and those with long term exposure to poor atmosphere.

RTI can be caused by viral infection, bacterial infection or as a result of weaknesses in the body (poor lungs) and by smoking and exposure to poor atmosphere (i.e. dusty)

It's a bit of a potted history. hope it answers your Q

Huh? Germs!

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