Differentiating acute viral nasopharyngitis from other diseases

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Younes M.B.B.CH [2]

Overview

Acute viral nasopharyngitis should be differentiated from other diseases that cause runny nose, cough, and constitutional symptoms, such as influenza, allergic rhinitis, and acute sinusitis.

Differentiating acute viral nasopharyngitis from other diseases

Acute viral nasopharyngitis should be differentiated from other diseases that cause runny nose, cough, and constitutional symptoms.

Disease History Physical examination Laboratory or radiological findings
Acute viral nasopharyngitis[1]
  • Diagnosis is usually clinical; lab tests are rarely needed.
  • The virus can be cultured on human lung cells, but it takes time.
  • PCR is rapid and accurate, but is done only when the infecting virus strain in immunocompromised patients needs to be known.
Allergic rhinitis[2]
  • Characterized by repeated paroxysms of rhinorrhea, sneezing, and cough.
  • Symptoms may be related to a specific season of the year, hence the name “seasonal allergies.”
Acute sinusitis[4]
Infectious mononucleosis[6]

Differentiating Flu and Common Cold

Symptoms Flu Common cold
Fever High fever (100-102° F) Rare
Headache Common Rare
Cough Common,

moderate to severe

Rare,

mild to moderate

Body aches Common, may be severe Slight
Fatigue Usual, can last up to 2-3 weeks Sometimes
Nasal congestion Sometimes Common
Sneezing Sometimes Common
Sore throat Sometimes Common
Adapted from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) [7]

References

  1. Heikkinen T, Järvinen A (2003). "The common cold". Lancet. 361 (9351): 51–9. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12162-9. PMID 12517470.
  2. Pawankar R, Bunnag C, Chen Y, Fukuda T, Kim YY, Le LT, Huong le TT, O'Hehir RE, Ohta K, Vichyanond P, Wang DY, Zhong N, Khaltaev N, Bousquet J (2009). "Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma update (ARIA 2008)--western and Asian-Pacific perspective". Asian Pac. J. Allergy Immunol. 27 (4): 237–43. PMID 20232579.
  3. Skoner DP (2001). "Allergic rhinitis: definition, epidemiology, pathophysiology, detection, and diagnosis". J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 108 (1 Suppl): S2–8. PMID 11449200.
  4. Low DE, Desrosiers M, McSherry J, Garber G, Williams JW, Remy H, Fenton RS, Forte V, Balter M, Rotstein C, Craft C, Dubois J, Harding G, Schloss M, Miller M, McIvor RA, Davidson RJ (1997). "A practical guide for the diagnosis and treatment of acute sinusitis". CMAJ. 156 Suppl 6: S1–14. PMID 9347786.
  5. "Acute maxillary sinusitis". N. Engl. J. Med. 305 (4): 226–7. 1981. doi:10.1056/NEJM198107233050419. PMID 7242607.
  6. Niederman JC, McCollum RW, Henle G, Henle W (1968). "Infectious mononucleosis. Clinical manifestations in relation to EB virus antibodies". JAMA. 203 (3): 205–9. PMID 4864269.
  7. "National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)- Flu (Influenza)".