Respiratory disease refers to any condition that affects the airways and lungs involved in human respiration. These diseases can impact any of the structures and organs involved in breathing. Respiratory diseases may be caused by infections, tobacco smoking, exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke, radon, asbestos, or other forms of air pollution. Asthma and upper respiratory infection are two types of respiratory diseases.
The key difference between asthma and upper respiratory infection is their cause. Asthma involves the inflammation of the lower airways tubes called bronchial tubes in the lungs while upper respiratory infection involves the infection of the sinuses and throat of the respiratory tract.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Asthma
3. What is Upper Respiratory Infection
4. Similarities – Asthma and Upper Respiratory Infection
5. Asthma vs Upper Respiratory Infection in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Asthma vs Upper Respiratory Infection
7. FAQ – Asthma and Upper Respiratory Infection
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a lung disease due to the inflammation of the lower airway tubes called bronchial tubes in the lungs. It currently affects more than 25 million people in the U.S. Asthma can have multiple causes, including allergies to substances like mold, pollens, and pet dander, as well as non-allergic triggers like exercise, stress, genetics, illness, and weather changes. Asthma symptoms include chest tightness, pain or pressure, coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing.
Asthma can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, spirometry, and chest X-ray. Furthermore, treatment options for asthma may include bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory medications, and biologic therapy.
What is Upper Respiratory Infection?
Upper respiratory infections affect the upper parts of the respiratory tract, such as the sinuses and throat. Examples of upper respiratory infections include the common cold, epiglottitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, and sinusitis. People can contract an upper respiratory infection when a virus or bacteria enter the respiratory system, often through touching an infected surface or shaking hands with a person who is sick. Moreover, the most common symptoms of upper respiratory infections may include cough, sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, headache, lower-grade fever, facial pressure, sneezing, hoarse voice, red eyes, and swollen lymph nodes.
Upper respiratory infections can be diagnosed through physical examinations, nasal swabs, throat swabs, and sputum tests. Furthermore, treatment options for upper respiratory tracts may include pain relievers, rest, drinking plenty of fluids, taking antibiotics such as penicillin or amoxicillin, and taking antiviral medications.
Similarities Between Asthma and Upper Respiratory Infection
- Asthma and upper respiratory infection are two respiratory diseases.
- Both these may show similar symptoms, such as coughing, shortness of breath, etc.
- They can be diagnosed through physical examination.
- They can be treated through over-the-counter and prescribed medications.
Difference Between Asthma and Upper Respiratory Infection
Definition
- Asthma is a lung disease due to the inflammation of the lower airway tubes called bronchial tubes in the lungs.
- Upper respiratory infection is an upper respiratory tract disease due to the infection of the sinuses and throat of the respiratory tract.
Causes
- Asthma can be caused by allergies to substances like molds, pollen, and pet dander, as well as non-allergic factors such as exercise, stress, genetics, illness, and weather.
- On the other hand, upper respiratory infections occur when a virus or bacteria enters the respiratory system through contact with infected surfaces or sick individuals.
Symptoms
- Common symptoms of asthma include chest tightness, pain or pressure, coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing.
- Upper respiratory infections often present with cough, sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, headache, mild fever, facial pressure, sneezing, hoarse voice, red eyes, and swollen lymph nodes.
Diagnosis
- Diagnosis of asthma typically involves reviewing medical history, conducting a physical examination, spirometry, and chest X-rays.
- Diagnosis of upper respiratory infections involves a physical examination along with nasal, throat, and sputum tests.
Treatment
- Asthma treatment includes bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory medications, and biologic therapy.
- Upper respiratory infections are often managed with pain relievers, rest, fluid intake, antibiotics like penicillin or amoxicillin, and antiviral medications when necessary.
The following table summarizes the difference between asthma and upper respiratory infection.
Summary – Asthma vs Upper Respiratory Infection
Asthma and upper respiratory infection are two respiratory diseases. Asthma occurs when there is an inflammation in the lower airway tubes called bronchial tubes in the lungs. Upper respiratory infection occurs when there is an infection in the sinuses and throat of the respiratory tract. This is the basic difference between asthma and upper respiratory infection.
FAQ: Asthma and Upper Respiratory Infection
1. What causes asthma to develop?
- Indoor allergens, such as dust mites, mold, dander or fur, outdoor allergens, such as pollens and non-allergic factors such as exercise, stress, genetics, illness and weather are causes of asthma.
2. What is the best treatment for asthma?
- Bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory medications, and biological therapy are the best ways to get rid of asthma. Moreover, people usually can create a personal action plan with a doctor or asthma nurse to manage their asthma.
3. What are the symptoms of an upper respiratory infection?
- The common symptoms of an upper respiratory tract are cough, sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, headache, lower-grade fever, facial pressure, sneezing, hoarse voice, red eyes, and swollen lymph nodes.
4. What are the main 5 upper respiratory infections?
- The five main upper respiratory infections are the common cold, sinusitis, pharyngitis, epiglottitis, and laryngotracheitis. These infections can range from mild to severe. Some may resolve on their own, while others may lead to more serious health issues if they’re not managed properly.
5. What is the fastest way to get rid of an upper respiratory infection?
- Get plenty of rest, drink lots of water to loosen any mucus and make it easier to cough up, drink a hot lemon and honey drink to help soothe a cough, gargle with warm salty water if you have a sore throat, take antibiotics such as penicillin or amoxicillin and taking antiviral medications.
Reference:
1. “Asthma: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. Grief, Samuel N. “Upper Respiratory Infections.” Primary Care, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Asthma medicine” By Тетяна Фіонік – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Selective Focus Photo of Coughing Man’s Hand” (CC0) via Pexels