What is an "upper respiratory infection" or "URI"?

What is an "upper respiratory infection" or "URI"?

Richard Sheldon (Medical Advisor to the CA State Respiratory Care Board) gives expert video advice on: How can I prevent an upper respiratory infection?; What are the symptoms of a sinus infection? and more...

A respiratory infection involves the upper portion of the respiratory tract, is usually caused by a virus. It causes sneezing and coughing and congestion, and may cause some fever, a sort of a flu like syndrome. And that's usually what people usual refer to as "the flu". It may also involve your ears getting clogged up. It doesn't usually involve the lungs. A respiratory tract infection involving the upper lobes, or the upper airways, are usually confined then to the nose, upper nasal passages. A sore throat may be involved in that.