Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
An upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) affects the nose, throat, sinuses, or larynx. Most cases are viral and clear within a week or two on their own. Bacterial URTIs are less common but cause similar symptoms, sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, and sometimes fever, and are the cases where antibiotic treatment may be appropriate.
Medicine used to treat Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
When antibiotics come into the picture
Viral URTIs do not respond to antibiotics, so treatment targets symptom relief: rest, fluids, and analgesics. A bacterial cause is more likely if symptoms are severe, persist beyond ten days, or worsen after an initial improvement. Streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat) and acute bacterial sinusitis are the most frequent bacterial forms.
Oral cephalosporins such as cefpodoxime are commonly used for bacterial URTIs because they cover the gram-positive organisms responsible for most throat and sinus infections while remaining reasonably well tolerated. If symptoms are not improving or a high fever develops, seek medical attention promptly.