Upper Respiratory Infections & Homeopathy

Upper Respiratory Infections & Homeopathy

Applied Anatomy

The upper respiratory tract includes the nose, nasopharynx, and larynx. It is lined by vascular mucous membrane with ciliated epithelium on the surface.

The lower respiratory tract includes the trachea and bronchi. These form an interconnecting tree of conducting airways eventually joining via around 64,000

terminal bronchioles, with the alveoli to form acini. The lower respiratory tract is lined with ciliated epithelium as far as the terminal bronchioles.

The larynx and large bronchi are richly supplied with sensory nerve receptors involved in the cough reflex.

The acinus is the gas exchange unit of the lung and comprises of branching respiratory bronchioles leading to cluster of alveoli.

The alveoli are lined mostly with flattened epithelial cells (type I pneumocytes).

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

Clinically following major conditions are included in URI:

URI	Clinical features	Complications
Acute Coryza (Common Cold)	Rapid onset. Burning and tickling sensation in nose. Sneezing. Sore throat. Blocked nose with watery discharge. Discharge usually green/yellow after 24/48 hrs due to sec infection.	Sinusitis. Lower respiratory tract infection (bronchitis/pneumonia) Hearing impairment. Otitis media.
Acute laryngitis	Often a complication of acute coryza. Dry sore throat. Hoarse voice or loss of voice. Pain on speaking. Painful and unproductive cough. Stridor.	Chronic laryngitis. LRI.
Acute laryngotracheo-bronchitis (Croup)	Initial symptoms like common cold. Sudden paroxysms of cough accompanied by stridor and breathlessness. Cyanosis and asphyxia in small children.	Asphyxia. Death.
Acute Epiglottitis	Fever and sore throat. Stridor and cough in absence of much hoarseness	Death from asphyxia.
Acute Bronchitis	Often follows acute coryza. Irritating unproductive cough accompanied by retrosternal discomfort of tracheitis. Chest tightness, wheeze and breathlessness. Sputum is initially scanty, mucoid, viscid and may be streaked with blood. After a day or two, sputum becomes mucopurulent and more copious. May be associated with pyrexia.	Bronchopneumonia.
Influenza	Sudden onset of pyrexia associated with generalized aches and pains, anorexia, nausea and vomiting. Usually harsh unproductive cough. Post-influenza asthenia	Tracheitis, bronchitis, bronchiolitis and bronchopneumonia.

Applied Anat