Common Disorders of the Respiratory System
Your respiratory system is one of the most sensitive systems of the body. It can be directly affected by the air you breathe and other conditions in the environment. These make the respiratory system vulnerable to a variety of disorders.
Below are some of the common disorders of the respiratory system.
Common Cold
The common cold affects both children and adults. It is caused by a kind of virus called rhinovirus. This disorder usually affects the nasal cavity and may spread to the pharynx and down the respiratory tract. The symptoms of the common cold include having fever, cough, sore throat, sneezing, rhinitis (runny nose), and redness and swelling of the nose. A person with the common cold is advised to drink plenty of fluids and take a rest.
Pertussis
Pertussis, also called whooping cough, is an infection of the respiratory tract caused by bacteria. The symptoms of pertussis include sneezing, red and watery eyes, runny nose, fever, and dry cough. A person with this respiratory infection is advised to rest and drink lot of fluids. A cool mist vaporizer may also be used to relieve the symptoms. Doctor also prescribe antibiotics. To prevent pertussis, a vaccine is usually administered to children.
