Upper respiratory tract infections

13. Upper respiratory tract infections




The upper respiratory tract is the initial site of infection or a site of colonization for most infections of the respiratory tract (Fig. 3.13.1). It is also the site for a number of resident organisms, the prevalence of which will vary in individuals:





Some of these resident flora can be pathogenic. Infections of the upper respiratory tract (URTIs) are the commonest acute illness. The respiratory tract has defence mechanisms that prevent infection in the normal individual (Fig. 3.13.2). The mucociliary escalator is the process where the mucous lining of the tract is swept upwards by the beating of cilia, thus carrying foreign particles trapped in the mucus up towards the pharynx, where it is swallowed.



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Jul 3, 2016 | Posted by in MUSCULOSKELETAL MEDICINE | Comments Off on Upper respiratory tract infections

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