All infectious diseases are divided according to the source into viral and bacterial. If the virus is the causative agent of the disease, then antibiotics in this case are powerless. These drugs can not reduce pain and temperature. Respiratory infections caused by viruses ways possess a feature: they appear and spread very rapidly, but after that, as a rule, the same spontaneous and quick recovery follows. For a bacterial cause, treatment of an airway infection with antibiotics becomes necessary. The nature of the respiratory tract infection is determined by a number of reasons that are determined by the doctor after the sick person passes the tests. In this case, during treatment, antibiotics help to avoid a chronic form of the disease or serious complications.
Localization of infections
The pathogens of respiratory tract infection in the mucous membrane are localized. In some cases of the disease, with the preservation of primary localization, they migrate to various tissues and organs along with a blood stream or in another way. The causative agent is excreted from the body during sneezing, coughing, with air during a conversation. Particles of dead epithelium, droplets of exudate, mucus that contain the pathogen, depending on the size and influence of other factors for some time in the air remain suspended or settle on a variety of objects surrounding the person, and dry out. The contents of the droplets in the dried state in the form of dust again fall into the air. The next (susceptible) organism, therefore, enters the pathogen with inhaled air and dust particles or in droplets. Dust infection, of course, is possible with such infections in which the pathogen is able to withstand drying (diphtheria, tuberculosis and others).
Infection
Other pathways of infection are much less likely. Some pathogens of upper respiratory tract infection along with primary localization in the body have a secondary one. Due to it, the causative agents of leprosy, chickenpox, which are localized in the mucous membranes and skin (granulomas, pustules), and with leprosy in other tissues and organs, through some objects enter another organism. Particularly characteristic is the transmission of infection through objects for tonsillitis with various etiologies, scarlet fever, mumps, diphtheria. Of paramount importance in this case are those objects on which saliva appears during use (mouthpieces, whistles, drinking fountains, dishes).
Disease spread
Upper respiratory tract infection is quite widespread. It is difficult for many to avoid the disease, and for some infections people get sick many times during their lifetime. Respiratory tract infection has an important epidemiological feature - this is a high coverage of children at a very young age. Therefore, it is no coincidence that many diseases of this group have long been called childhood infections. The sharp difference in the incidence is actually due to immunity in adults, which was acquired in childhood.