Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Anne Meneghetti, MD; Chief Editor: Zab Mosenifar, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 7, 2012
 
 

Differential Diagnoses

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Anne Meneghetti, MD  Assistant Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine; Medical Broadcaster, Life, Love and Health, RealForMe.com

Anne Meneghetti, MD is a member of the following medical societies: National Ayurvedic Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Gregory William Rutecki  MD, Professor of Medicine, University of South Alabama Medical School

Gregory William Rutecki is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American Society of Nephrology, National Kidney Foundation, and Society of General Internal Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Timothy D Rice, MD  Associate Professor, Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, St Louis University School of Medicine

Timothy D Rice, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Zab Mosenifar, MD  Director, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Director, Women's Guild Pulmonary Disease Institute, Professor and Executive Vice Chair, Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine

Zab Mosenifar, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Medical Research, and American Thoracic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Seasonal variation of selected upper respiratory tract infection pathogens. PIV is parainfluenza virus, RSV is respiratory syncytial virus, MPV is metapneumovirus, and Group A Strept is group A streptococcal disease.
CT scan of the sinuses demonstrates maxillary sinusitis. The left maxillary sinus is completely opacified (asterisk), and the right has mucosal thickening (arrow). Courtesy of Omar Lababede, MD, Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Lateral neck radiograph demonstrates epiglottitis. Courtesy of Marilyn Goske, MD, Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Gonococcal pharyngitis. Image credit: CDC Public Health Image Library (Flumara NJ, Hart G).
Strep throat with petechiae. CDC Public Health Image Library (Eichenwald HF).
Table. Symptoms of Allergies, URIs, and Influenza
SymptomAllergyURIInfluenza
Itchy, watery eyescommonrare; conjunctivitis may occur with adenovirussoreness behind eyes, sometimes conjunctivitis
Nasal dischargecommoncommoncommon
Nasal congestioncommoncommonsometimes
Sneezingvery commonvery commonsometimes
Sore throatsometimes (postnasal drip)very commonsometimes
Coughsometimescommon, mild to moderate, hacking coughcommon, dry cough, can be severe
Headacheuncommonrarecommon
Feverneverrare in adults, possible in childrenvery common, 100-102°F or higher (in young children), lasting 3-4 days; may have chills
Malaisesometimessometimesvery common
Fatigue, weaknesssometimessometimesvery common, can last for weeks, extreme exhaustion early in course
Myalgiasneverslightvery common, often severe
Durationweeks3-14 days7 days, followed by additional days of cough and fatigue
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