Why Are Lower Respiratory Tract Infections So Dangerous?
Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: An Overview
Commonly known as LRTI, the infections of the lungs and region below the larynx are classified as lower respiratory tract infections. A common misconception about these infections is that they are only pneumonic infections. That is wrong since bronchitis and tuberculosis are also grouped under the umbrella of these infections.
More often than not, lower respiratory tract infections affect the airways or the air sacs, which then leads to difficulty in breathing and certain other symptoms that we talk about in the next section. However, what a patient suffering from LRTI has to be wary of most is the risk of complications. Things can take a very ugly route if a patient is not careful, some of these complications can prove to be life-threatening as well. These include congestive heart failure, respiratory arrest, lung abscesses, and sepsis i.e. blood infection. Even though a majority percentage of lower respiratory tract infections is uncomplicated, the risk of these complications cannot be ruled out at all.
Symptoms of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
Some of the symptoms that can give a clue about these infections include:
- Dry cough
- Runny nose
- Mild fever
- Headache
- Laboured breathing
- Chest pain
- Wheezing
It is pertinent to mention here that some of these symptoms can become more intense in case of a severe infection.
Read more from the official website Transparent Hands Organization.
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