Acute respiratory infection in children

1. ACUTE RESPIRATORY
INFECTIONS

2. ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS (ARI) ARE A
GROUP OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES THAT AFFECT
THE RESPIRATORY TRACT AND CAUSE SYMPTOMS
SUCH AS COUGH, RUNNY NOSE, SORE THROAT,
HEADACHE, FEVER, AND GENERAL MALAISE
• .
Acute respiratory infections (ARI) can be caused by various pathogens,
including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. The most common causes of ARI are
viruses such as rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, coronaviruses, influenza
viruses, parainfluenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and
others. Bacterial pathogens that can cause ARI include Streptococcus
pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and others.
Fungi can also be a cause of ARI, especially in people with weakened
immune systems. In addition, ARI can be caused by a combination of
different pathogens.

3. PATHOGENESIS
• THE PATHOGENESIS OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS (ARI) IS A
COMPLEX PROCESS THAT INVOLVES SEVERAL STEPS:
 ETIOLOGY: ARIS CAN BE CAUSED BY VARIOUS INFECTIOUS AGENTS, INCLUDING
VIRUSES, BACTERIA, FUNGI, AND OTHER MICROORGANISMS. EACH AGENT HAS
ITS OWN MECHANISM OF ACTION ON THE BODY.
 MUCOSAL DAMAGE: AFTER THE INFECTIOUS AGENT ENTERS THE BODY, IT BEGINS
TO REPLICATE IN THE CELLS OF THE RESPIRATORY MUCOSA, LEADING TO
DAMAGE. THIS CAN RESULT IN HYPERSECRETION, EDEMA, AND IMPAIRMENT OF
RESPIRATORY FUNCTION.
 INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE: THE INFLAMMATORY PROCESS DEVELOPS AS A
RESPONSE TO THE INFECTION. IT INCLUDES MULTIPLE COMPONENTS SUCH AS
INFLAMMATION MEDIATORS, CYTOKINES, AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES.
AS A RESULT OF INFLAMMATION, MUCOSAL HYPERTROPHY, CHANGES IN ITS
STRUCTURE, AND THE FORMATION OF PURULENT SECRETIONS MAY OCCUR.

4. PATHOGENESIS
ACTIVATION OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM: DURING ARIS, THE IMMUNE
SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED TO FIGHT AGAINST THE INFECTIOUS AGENT.
THIS CAN LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN BODY TEMPERATURE, AN
INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WHITE BLOOD CELLS, WHICH IN
TURN CAN CAUSE VARIOUS SYMPTOMS SUCH AS WEAKNESS,
FATIGUE, AND BODY ACHES.
DEVELOPMENT OF COMPLICATIONS: IN SOME CASES, ARIS CAN
LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPLICATIONS, SUCH AS
PNEUMONIA, BRONCHITIS, ASTHMA, AND OTHER RESPIRATORY
DISEASES. COMPLICATIONS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH PROLONGED
INFLAMMATION AND IMPAIRED RESPIRATORY FUNCTION.

5. ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS (ARI) CAN BE CLASSIFIED IN
DIFFERENT WAYS DEPENDING ON THE CRITERIA USED. HERE ARE
SOME COMMON CLASSIFICATIONS:
 ANATOMICAL CLASSIFICATION: THIS CLASSIFICATION IS BASED
ON THE LOCATION OF THE INFECTION IN THE RESPIRATORY
TRACT. IT INCLUDES UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS
(URTIS) AND LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS (LRTIS).
URTIS AFFECT THE NOSE, THROAT, SINUSES, AND LARYNX,
WHILE LRTIS AFFECT THE BRONCHI, BRONCHIOLES, AND LUNGS.
 ETIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION: THIS CLASSIFICATION IS BASED
ON THE CAUSE OF THE INFECTION. ARI CAN BE CAUSED BY A
VARIETY OF PATHOGENS, INCLUDING VIRUSES, BACTERIA,
FUNGI, AND PARASITES.

6.  CLINICAL CLASSIFICATION: THIS CLASSIFICATION IS BASED ON THE
CLINICAL PRESENTATION OF THE INFECTION. ARI CAN BE CLASSIFIED
AS MILD, MODERATE, OR SEVERE, DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF
SYMPTOMS AND THE PRESENCE OF COMPLICATIONS.
 TIME-BASED CLASSIFICATION: THIS CLASSIFICATION IS BASED ON
THE DURATION OF THE INFECTION. ARI CAN BE CLASSIFIED AS ACUTE
(LASTING LESS THAN 3 WEEKS), SUBACUTE (LASTING 3-8 WEEKS), OR
CHRONIC (LASTING MORE THAN 8 WEEKS).
 AGE-BASED CLASSIFICATION: THIS CLASSIFICATION IS BASED ON THE
AGE OF THE PATIENT. ARI CAN BE CLASSIFIED AS PEDIATRIC OR
ADULT, AS THE CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND MANAGEMENT MAY
DIFFER IN THESE POPULATIONS.

7. THE CLINICAL FEATURES OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTION (ARI) CAN
VARY DEPENDING ON THE CAUSATIVE AGENT AND THE SEVERITY OF THE
INFECTION. HOWEVER, SOME COMMON CLINICAL FEATURES INCLUDE:
1. COUGH: A PERSISTENT OR INTERMITTENT COUGH IS A COMMON SYMPTOM OF ARI. THE COUGH MAY
BE DRY OR PRODUCTIVE, AND CAN LAST FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.
2. NASAL CONGESTION: NASAL CONGESTION IS ANOTHER COMMON SYMPTOM OF ARI. THE NASAL
PASSAGES MAY BECOME SWOLLEN AND CONGESTED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO BREATHE THROUGH
THE NOSE.
3. SORE THROAT: A SORE THROAT IS A COMMON SYMPTOM OF ARI, ESPECIALLY IN INFECTIONS
CAUSED BY VIRUSES.
4. HEADACHE: HEADACHE IS A COMMON SYMPTOM OF ARI AND IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH NASAL
CONGESTION AND SINUS PRESSURE.
5. FEVER: FEVER IS A COMMON SYMPTOM OF ARI, ESPECIALLY IN INFECTIONS CAUSED BY VIRUSES.
THE BODY'S TEMPERATURE MAY RISE ABOVE THE NORMAL RANGE (37°C OR 98.6°F).
6. FATIGUE: FATIGUE IS A COMMON SYMPTOM OF ARI AND IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH FEVER AND
OTHER SYMPTOMS.
7. MUSCLE ACHES: MUSCLE ACHES ARE A COMMON SYMPTOM OF ARI AND ARE OFTEN ASSOCIATED
WITH FEVER AND FATIGUE.
8. SHORTNESS OF BREATH: SHORTNESS OF BREATH IS A COMMON SYMPTOM OF ARI, ESPECIALLY IN
SEVERE CASES OR IN PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS.
9. CHEST PAIN: CHEST PAIN IS A LESS COMMON SYMPTOM OF ARI, BUT IT CAN OCCUR IN SEVERE
CASES OR IN PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS.

8. THE DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS (ARI) IS USUALLY BASED ON CLINICAL
PRESENTATION AND SYMPTOMS. HOWEVER, ADDITIONAL TESTS MAY BE NEEDED TO CONFIRM THE
SPECIFIC CAUSATIVE AGENT AND TO RULE OUT OTHER DISEASES THAT MAY HAVE SIMILAR
SYMPTOMS.
• SOME OF THE COMMON DIAGNOSTIC TESTS USED FOR ARI INCLUDE:
1.VIRAL CULTURE OR ANTIGEN DETECTION: THIS TEST INVOLVES COLLECTING A
SAMPLE OF RESPIRATORY SECRETIONS, SUCH AS SPUTUM, NASAL SWAB, OR
THROAT SWAB, AND TESTING FOR THE PRESENCE OF SPECIFIC VIRAL ANTIGENS
OR GROWING THE VIRUS IN CULTURE.
2.POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR) TESTING: THIS IS A MOLECULAR TEST
THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF VIRAL OR BACTERIAL DNA OR RNA IN
RESPIRATORY SECRETIONS. IT CAN IDENTIFY SPECIFIC VIRAL OR BACTERIAL
PATHOGENS QUICKLY AND ACCURATELY.
3.BLOOD TESTS: BLOOD TESTS CAN BE DONE TO MEASURE THE LEVELS OF
CERTAIN ANTIBODIES THAT THE BODY PRODUCES IN RESPONSE TO A VIRAL OR
BACTERIAL INFECTION.
4.CHEST X-RAY: A CHEST X-RAY MAY BE ORDERED TO EVALUATE THE EXTENT OF
LUNG INVOLVEMENT AND TO RULE OUT OTHER RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS,
SUCH AS PNEUMONIA.

9. TREATMENT
• THE TREATMENT OF ARI IN CHILDREN CAN VARY DEPENDING ON
THE SEVERITY OF THE SYMPTOMS AND THE UNDERLYING CAUSE
OF THE INFECTION. HERE IS A GENERAL STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH
TO TREATING ARI IN CHILDREN:
1.SUPPORTIVE CARE: THE FIRST STEP IN TREATING ARI IN CHILDREN
IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE CARE. THIS INCLUDES KEEPING THE
CHILD HYDRATED BY ENCOURAGING THEM TO DRINK FLUIDS AND
ENSURING THEY GET ADEQUATE REST.
2.FEVER MANAGEMENT: IF THE CHILD HAS A FEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT
TO MANAGE IT APPROPRIATELY. OVER-THE-COUNTER
MEDICATIONS SUCH AS ACETAMINOPHEN OR IBUPROFEN CAN BE
USED TO REDUCE FEVER AND ALLEVIATE ANY ASSOCIATED PAIN.
3.NASAL SALINE DROPS/SPRAYS: NASAL SALINE DROPS OR SPRAYS
CAN HELP RELIEVE NASAL CONGESTION AND PROMOTE DRAINAGE

10. 1.DECONGESTANTS: IF NASAL CONGESTION IS SEVERE, DECONGESTANT
MEDICATIONS MAY BE PRESCRIBED TO HELP OPEN UP THE AIRWAYS.
HOWEVER, THESE MEDICATIONS SHOULD BE USED WITH CAUTION IN
YOUNG CHILDREN AND ONLY UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A HEALTHCARE
PROVIDER.
2.ANTIHISTAMINES: IF ALLERGIES ARE THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF ARI,
ANTIHISTAMINES MAY BE PRESCRIBED TO REDUCE SYMPTOMS SUCH AS
SNEEZING, ITCHING, AND RUNNY NOSE.
3.ANTIBIOTICS: ANTIBIOTICS ARE ONLY EFFECTIVE AGAINST BACTERIAL
INFECTIONS AND ARE NOT RECOMMENDED FOR TREATING VIRAL ARI.
HOWEVER, IF A BACTERIAL INFECTION IS SUSPECTED, ANTIBIOTICS MAY
BE PRESCRIBED.
4.ANTIVIRAL MEDICATIONS: IN SOME CASES, ANTIVIRAL MEDICATIONS MAY
BE PRESCRIBED TO TREAT ARI CAUSED BY CERTAIN VIRUSES SUCH AS
INFLUENZA.

11. COMPLICATIONS OF ARI CAN OCCUR IN CERTAIN CASES, ESPECIALLY IF THE
INFECTION IS NOT PROPERLY MANAGED OR IF THE PERSON HAS OTHER
UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS. SOME POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS OF ARI
INCLUDE:
1. PNEUMONIA: THIS IS A SERIOUS LUNG INFECTION THAT CAN CAUSE FEVER, COUGH, AND
DIFFICULTY BREATHING. IT CAN DEVELOP AS A COMPLICATION OF SEVERE CASES OF ARI,
PARTICULARLY IN YOUNG CHILDREN, OLDER ADULTS, AND PEOPLE WITH WEAKENED IMMUNE
SYSTEMS.
2. BRONCHITIS: ARI CAN CAUSE INFLAMMATION OF THE BRONCHIAL TUBES, WHICH CAN RESULT IN
BRONCHITIS. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE COUGHING, WHEEZING, AND DIFFICULTY BREATHING.
3. EAR INFECTIONS: ARI CAN CAUSE INFLAMMATION AND INFECTION OF THE MIDDLE EAR, WHICH
CAN LEAD TO EAR PAIN, FEVER, AND HEARING LOSS.
4. SINUS INFECTIONS: ARI CAN CAUSE INFLAMMATION AND INFECTION OF THE SINUSES,
RESULTING IN SINUSITIS. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE HEADACHE, FACIAL PAIN, NASAL CONGESTION,
AND A FEELING OF PRESSURE IN THE FACE.
5. ASTHMA EXACERBATIONS: ARI CAN TRIGGER ASTHMA SYMPTOMS IN PEOPLE WITH ASTHMA,
LEADING TO WHEEZING, COUGHING, AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH.
6. DEHYDRATION: ARI CAN CAUSE DEHYDRATION, PARTICULARLY IN YOUNG CHILDREN AND OLDER
ADULTS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT THE PERSON STAYS HYDRATED BY DRINKING
PLENTY OF FLUIDS.