Lower respiratory tract infection

Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is a term often used as a synonym for <a href="/facts/Pneumonia/Jw0KquTA">pneumonia</a> but can also be applied to other types of infection including <a href="/facts/Lung_abscess/BtcGrSpn">lung abscess</a> and <a href="/facts/Acute_bronchitis/g95C1JsP">acute bronchitis</a>. Symptoms include <a href="/facts/Shortness_of_breath/1jBfFzxU">shortness of breath</a>, weakness, <a href="/facts/Fever/waVxR2Ac">fever</a>, coughing and fatigue. A routine <a href="/facts/Chest_X-ray/BUExu2WY">chest X-ray</a> is not always necessary for people who have symptoms of a lower respiratory tract infection.
<a href="/facts/Influenza/nWuFzh6L">Influenza</a> affects both the <a href="/facts/Upper_respiratory_tract/nnG9UEmr">upper</a> and <a href="/facts/Lower_respiratory_tract/nnG9UEmr">lower respiratory tracts</a>.
<a href="/facts/Antibiotics/sF1kIfxg">Antibiotics</a> are the first line treatment for pneumonia; however, they are neither effective nor indicated for parasitic or viral infections. Acute bronchitis typically resolves on its own with time.
In 2015 there were about 291 million cases. These resulted in 2.74 million deaths down from 3.4 million deaths in 1990. This was 4.8% of all deaths in 2013.
The <a href="/facts/World_Health_Organization/YNN3bgug">World Health Organization</a> has reported that, in 2021, "Lower respiratory infections remained the world’s most deadly communicable disease other than COVID-19, ranked as the fifth leading cause of death." However, the number of deaths caused has decreased by around 13% from 2000 to 2021.

Lower respiratory tract infection open-in-new

Lower respiratory tract infection