Respiratory Infection Specialist

ENT of New Orleans Our Services Respiratory Infection
ENT of New Orleans - - ENT Specialist

ENT of New Orleans

ENT Specialists & Facial Plastic Surgery located in Marrero, LA , New Orleans, LA , Chalmette, LA, & Harvey, LA servicing the Greater New Orleans area

Respiratory infections often make headline news, none more so than the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020. If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, chances are it’s something your body can manage on its own. But if you’re worried, you should call Gregory Pippin, MD, and Adil Fatakia, MD, at ENT of New Orleans. Serving the Greater New Orleans area at their offices in Marrero and New Orleans East, Louisiana, Dr. Pippin and Dr. Fatakia have state-of-the-art testing facilities with a fast, accurate turnaround. They also offer effective treatments for the complications respiratory infections can cause. Call ENT of New Orleans today to find out more or book an appointment online.

Respiratory Infection Q & A

What is a respiratory infection?

A respiratory infection is one that affects your airways, interfering with your breathing (respiration). Upper respiratory infections are ones that affect your nose, sinuses, and throat. They cause symptoms like:

  • Runny nose
  • Blocked sinuses
  • Headache
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Sneezing
  • Fever

The common cold is the leading form of upper respiratory infection. Other common types include tonsillitis, laryngitis, and sinusitis.

Lower respiratory infections are ones that affect your lungs like pneumonia, bronchitis, and pleurisy.

Is coronavirus a respiratory infection?

Coronavirus is a type of respiratory infection. There are different types of coronavirus and in fact, coronaviruses are common. They’re called coronaviruses because they have spikes on them that look like crowns. “Corona” is Latin for “crown.”

Previous outbreaks of coronavirus include severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The new coronavirus is called COVID-19 and appears to have originated in China. When a new virus develops, it can be alarming because of the fear that the virus could spread rapidly and infect vast numbers of people.

COVID-19 causes respiratory illness, so symptoms are similar to a cold or flu and include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. You catch COVID-19 in the same way as a cold, by breathing in droplets containing the virus when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

As it’s new, there’s no vaccine for it yet. However, most people who get COVID-19 are likely to experience mild to moderate symptoms and make a full recovery. As with other coronaviruses, some people will have severe symptoms and develop problems like pneumonia.

If you’re concerned about COVID-19, you can have a test done at ENT of New Orleans. They have state-of-the-art on-site testing facilities so you won’t need to go out of your way. You get your results quickly, as they do rapid respiratory cultures for an accurate diagnosis.

How are respiratory infections treated?

Because respiratory infections are usually viral, antibiotics have no effect on them. In most cases, your immune system deals with the respiratory infection and you recover on your own. Rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take over-the-counter medications for your symptoms.

After a week, you should be feeling better. If you aren’t or you’re having problems breathing, you should call ENT of New Orleans for advice. You might have a complication like sinusitis, which causes severe facial pain, or pneumonia, which can make it hard for you to breathe.

If you do have complications like sinusitis, ENT of New Orleans has exceptional facilities for treating the problem. They also provide same-day appointments for common illnesses like colds and flu.

Call ENT of New Orleans today for advice and information or book an appointment online.

We see patients all throughout the Greater New Orleans area. Call us to book your appointment today.

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