Upper Respiratory Infections

Paul G. Auwaerter, M.D.

PATHOGENS

Many viral pathogens may cause upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), > 200 known; below is only a partial listing:
- Rhinovirus
  - Most common
- Influenza virus
- Coronavirus
- SARS-CoV-2
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- Parainfluenza virus
- Human Metapneumovirus
- Adenovirus
- Bocavirus
Bacterial causes are less common than viral
- Streptococcus pneumonia
- Mycoplasma pneumonia
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Chlamydophilapneumoniae
- Consider, especially in outbreak settings
  - Coxiella burnetii
  - Legionella pneumophila
For travelers within 14d, if appropriate
- MERS (Arabian Penisula)
- Avian influenza (SE Asia)
- Histoplasma capsulatum
- Coccidioides immitis

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