Respiratory Diseases, Acute definition of Respiratory Diseases, Acute in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Respiratory Diseases, Acute

a group of infectious diseases, mainly viral in origin, characterized by inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. The source of infection is an infected person or a carrier of the virus. The causative agent is spread together with particles of mucus and saliva during coughing, sneezing, or conversation; infection may also spread by means of linens, towels, or dishes. Such environmental factors as cold, dust, and chemicals play an important role in the inception of some acute respiratory diseases.

The acute respiratory diseases include influenza, parainfluenza, and adenoviral, reoviral, rhinoviral, and enteroviral diseases, as well as some infections caused by mycoplasmas, streptococci, and staphylococci. Immunity after a disease caused by one agent does not give protection against another agent, and therefore a person may have acute respiratory diseases several times a year. With the exception of influenza, the diseases are characterized by moderate fever and by manifestations of rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, and bronchitis, sometimes combined with inflammation of the connective membrane of the eyes (conjunctivitis).

In the absence of complications, acute respiratory diseases usually last five to eight days. Specific preventive measures have been developed only against influenza; the nonspecific preventive measures are identical for all acute respiratory diseases, including influenza. Prevention against chilling and maintenance of an optimal microclimate at places of work are important preventive measures.

Mentioned in	?		Encyclopedia browser	?		Full browser	?
No references found			resorcinol adhesive resorcinol diglycidyl ether resorcinol monoacetate resorcinol-formaldehyde resin Resorption resource Resource Access Control Facility resource allocation in multiproject scheduling resource compiler Resource Description Framework resource discovery resource fork resource manager resource requirements Resource Reservation Protocol Resourcefulness Respighi Respighi, Ottorino Respiration Respiration, Intramolecular Respirator respiratory arrest Respiratory Center Respiratory Chromogens respiratory dead space Respiratory Diseases, Acute respiratory distress syndrome respiratory distress syndrome of newborn respiratory epithelium respiratory minute volume Respiratory Muscles Respiratory Mycoplasmosis Respiratory Organs respiratory pigment respiratory quotient Respiratory Quotient RQ respiratory syncytial virus respiratory system respiratory therapy respiratory tree respirometer respond respondent responder responder beacon response response characteristic response time responsibility Responsibility of a State Responsible Bailment			respiratory control ratio respiratory control ratio respiratory control ratio respiratory cooperation respiratory crepitation respiratory crepitation respiratory crepitation respiratory cycle respiratory cycle Respiratory dead space Respiratory dead space Respiratory dead space respiratory depressant Respiratory depression Respiratory depression respiratory depth respiratory depth respiratory diaphragm respiratory diaphragm respiratory diaphragm respiratory difficulty respiratory difficulty Respiratory diphtheria Respiratory diphtheria Respiratory diphtheria respiratory disease Respiratory Disease Assessment Instrument Respiratory Disease Complex respiratory disease pattern respiratory disease pattern Respiratory Diseases, Acute respiratory disorder Respiratory Distress Respiratory Distress Respiratory Distress Respiratory Distress Respiratory Distress Assessment Index Respiratory Distress in Thoracic Breathing Respiratory distress syndrom Respiratory distress syndrom Respiratory distress syndrom respiratory distress syndrome respiratory distress syndrome respiratory distress syndrome respiratory distress syndrome Respiratory distress syndrome of newborn Respiratory distress syndrome of newborn respiratory distress syndrome of newborn (RDS) respiratory distress syndrome of newborn (RDS) respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn Respiratory distress syndrome, adult respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal Respiratory distress syndrome, newborn Respiratory Disturbance Index Respiratory diverticulum Respiratory Drug Delivery Respiratory Drug Delivery X respiratory e

Respiratory Diseases, Acute

REFERENCE