Respiratory illness

Respiratory illness refers to any acute illness that affects the respiratory system such as the common cold, flu or influenza, to more serious illnesses such as SARS, MERS, or the 2019/2020 Coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China.

COVID-19 symptoms

Types

Respiratory illness or infection can be upper respiratory or lower respiratory depending on which part of the respiratory system the illness or infection affects.

Incidence

Upper respiratory infection is more common than lower respiratory infection.

INFECTIOUS AGENTS

[Viral pathogens are the most common cause of respiratory infection in travelers; causative agents include rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, human metapneumovirus, measles, mumps, adenovirus, and coronaviruses.

Bacterial pathogens are less common than viral but can include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Chlamydophila pneumoniae. Coxiella burnetii and Legionella pneumophila can cause outbreaks and sporadic cases of respiratory illness. Bacterial sinusitis, bronchitis, or pneumonia may also occur secondarily after a viral respiratory infection.

EPIDEMIOLOGIC CONSIDERATIONS

Outbreaks may occur following common-source exposures in hotels, on cruise ships, or among tour groups. A few pathogens have been associated with outbreaks in travelers, including influenza virus, L. pneumophila, and Histoplasma capsulatum. The peak influenza season in the temperate Northern Hemisphere is December through February. In the temperate Southern Hemisphere, peak influenza season runs from June through August. There is no peak season for influenza in tropical climates; the risk of infection is present 12 months of the year. Exposure to an infected person traveling from another hemisphere, such as on a cruise ship or on a package tour, can lead to influenza outbreak at any time or place.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

Most respiratory infections, especially those of the upper respiratory tract, are mild and not incapacitating. Upper respiratory tract infections often cause rhinorrhea or pharyngitis. Lower respiratory tract infections, particularly pneumonia, can be more severe. Lower respiratory tract infec­tions are more likely than upper respiratory tract infections to cause fever, dyspnea, or chest pain. Cough is often present in either upper or lower respiratory tract infections. People with influenza commonly have acute onset of fever, myalgia, headache, and cough. Consider pulmonary embolism in the differential diagnosis of travelers who present with dyspnea, cough, or pleurisy and fever, especially those who have recently been on long car or plane rides (see Chapter 8, Deep Vein Thrombosis & Pulmonary Embolism).

DIAGNOSIS

Identifying a specific etiologic agent, especially in the absence of pneumonia or serious disease, is not always clinically necessary. If indicated, the following methods of diagnosis can be used:

• Molecular methods are available to detect a number of respiratory viruses, including influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus, and for certain nonviral pathogens.
• Rapid tests are also available to detect some pathogens such as respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, L. pneumophila, Histoplasma capsulatum, and group A Streptococcus.
• Microbiologic culturing of sputum and blood, although insensitive, can help identify a causative respiratory pathogen.
• Special consideration should be given to diagnosing patients with suspected MERS (www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/interim-guidance.html) or avian influenza (www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/healthprofessionals.htm).

TREATMENT

Travelers with respiratory infections are usually managed similarly to nontravelers, although travelers with progressive or severe illness should be evaluated for illnesses specific to their travel destinations and exposure history.

PREVENTION

Vaccines are available to prevent a number of respiratory diseases, including influenza, S. pneumoniae infection, H. influenzae type B infection (in young children), pertussis, diphtheria, varicella, and measles. Unless contraindicated, travelers should be vaccinated against influenza and be up-to-date on other routine immunizations. Preventing respiratory illness while traveling may not be possible, but common-sense preventive measures include the following:

• Minimizing close contact with people who are coughing and sneezing
• Frequent handwashing, either with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers (containing ≥60% alcohol) when soap and water are not available
• Using a vasoconstricting nasal spray immediately before air travel if the traveler has a preexisting eustachian tube dysfunction, which may help lessen the likelihood of otitis or barotrauma

Appropriate infection control measures should be u

Respiratory illness Resources
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COVID vaccine development

WHO preventing coronavirus

Coronavirus: WHO declares COVID 19 a pandemic.

• Prevention
• FAQs on COVID
• Glossary of COVID

Treatments

The monoclonal antibodies treatments Bamlanivimab (made by Eli Lilly and Company) and the therapeutic cocktail Casirivimab/Imdevimab (made by Regeneron) called monoclonal antibodies that can be given to help treat patients with COVID-19.  

Vaccines

List of approved COVID-19 vaccinations in US

The following COVID-19 vaccines have received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of COVID-19:

• The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in persons 16 years of age and older.
• The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for use in persons 18 years of age and older.
• The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine for use in persons 18 years and older.

External links

• US HHS dashboard