Page 18 - The Regent Digest Volume 14 Issue 05

Sniffles, Sneezes,

and Sore Throats:

What’s Really Going On?

t often starts with a tickle in your throat, a stuffy Common Symptoms:
nose, or a cough that won’t quit — before you
Iknow it, you’re sniffling your way through the
• Runny or stuffy nose
week. That’s a typical Upper Respiratory Tract
Infection (URTI), one of the most common • Sore throat
reasons people fall ill, especially during changing • Cough (dry or wet)
weather or when the body’s defences are low. • Sneezing

• Mild fever
A URTI affects parts of the body like the nose,
• Headache or tiredness
throat, sinuses, and voice box. Depending on
• Hoarse voice
where the infection settles, it can show up as the
common cold, a sore throat, sinusitis, or even
laryngitis. Most cases are caused by viruses However, if symptoms last longer than
such as the rhinovirus, coronavirus, or influenza, ten days, if you have a persistent fever
and they usually clear up within a week or two. or breathing difficulty, it’s important
to see a doctor. A bacterial infection
may be the cause, and that might
need further treatment.

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