Can a Respiratory Infection Be Life-Threatening?

With respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) circulating, you might be paying more attention to your breathing. Is your nose clogged? Do your lungs seem like they’re working harder when you take a deep breath? 

If you’ve noticed any changes in your ability to breathe, talk to us at our Delray Beach, Florida, office. As a specialist in diagnosing and treating respiratory infections, Dr. Peymon Zarreii can determine what’s going on with your lungs, nose, throat, and more. Then, he and our team at Zarreii Medical and Aesthetics develop the right treatment plan to protect your ability to breathe. 

On that note, you might wonder how serious things can get. Could your respiratory infection become life-threatening? That depends, so let’s take a closer look.

Understanding respiratory infections

A respiratory infection is any infection that affects your respiratory system, or the parts of your body that allow you to breathe. A sinus infection, for example, is technically a respiratory infection. RSV and the flu are other forms of respiratory infections — viral infections, specifically. 

The symptoms of a respiratory infection generally include some of the following:

• Coughing or sneezing
• Congestion
• A runny nose
• A sore throat
• Difficulty taking a deep breath
• Chest pain

Respiratory infections can also come with more general symptoms like fever, body aches, and chills. 

If you notice these symptoms, stay home. Respiratory infections are usually contagious. 

At home, you can take certain steps — like drinking plenty of fluids and resting — to help your body fight the infection. Keep an eye on your symptoms. If they don’t improve within a few days, make an appointment with Dr. Zarreii.

When respiratory infections are dangerous

Left unchecked, serious respiratory infections can lead to respiratory arrest or failure, which can be fatal. 

If you’re having trouble breathing or are coughing up blood, talk to Dr. Zarreii as soon as possible. He can assess your respiratory system to find out what’s causing your infection.

If it’s bacterial, he can prescribe medication. Most respiratory infections are viral, though. That means monitoring your illness and waiting for it to run its course. With Dr. Zarreii involved, you can rest easy knowing you have a medical expert waiting to step in if your infection turns dangerous. 

In most cases, respiratory infections don’t pose any significant threat to your long-term health. They can turn life-threatening, though, so if your symptoms give you cause for concern, get in touch. You can contact Zarreii Medical and Aesthetics by calling our office or requesting your appointment online today.