Upper respiratory infections, commonly referred to the acronym URI, is the illness caused by an acute infection which involves the upper respiratory tract: nose, sinuses, pharynx, larynx, or bronchi.

It is the most common cause of days missed from work or school and one of the most common reasons for a medical visit.

It is estimated that the average adult has from two to three URI-type illnesses per year and the average child six to 10.

In the United States, this represents approximately one billion acute upper respiratory illnesses annually.

Recent studies show that up to 98% of all cases are viral in nature..

For more information about the topic Upper respiratory tract infection, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:

Human parainfluenza viruses — Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) are a group of four distinct serotypes of single-stranded RNA viruses belonging to the paramyxovirus family. They ...  > read more

Nasal congestion — Nasal congestion is the blockage of the nasal passages usually due to excessive secretion of mucus that is caused by a virus and typically resolves ...  > read more

Bronchitis — Bronchitis is an obstructive pulmonary disease characterized by inflammation of the bronchi of the lungs. Bronchitis can be acute (short-term), or ...  > read more

Diphtheria — Diphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness characterized by sore throat, low-grade fever, and an adherent membrane (a pseudomembrane) on the ...  > read more

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