respiratory tract infection
1
4.1
- noun
- /ˈrɛspəˌrɛtəri trækts ɪnˈfɛkʃən/
- Specialized
:
infección del tracto respiratorio
- A respiratory tract infection can cause symptoms like coughing, runny nose, and fever.
- upper respiratory tract infection
- lower respiratory tract infection
- acute respiratory tract infection
Examples
-
Every year, the average adult in the United States contracts two to three upper respiratory tract infections.
Academic text (1995) -
A 3-year-old Native American boy was brought to a family physician with symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection and increasing fever.
Academic text (2003) -
Presence of mild symptoms of a respiratory tract infection at the time of sampling as reported by parents.
Academic text (2014) -
Such recurrences generally take place within 1 year, and they are often associated with an upper respiratory tract infection.
Academic text (2010) -
Incident rates of upper respiratory tract infections have been reported to be higher in children who attend daycare.
Academic text (2002) -
Overcrowded living conditions and colder weather help facilitate an increase in upper respiratory tract infections, leading to outbreaks.
Academic text (2011) -
Among these is Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a common agent of respiratory tract infections that is transmitted from person to person through aerosolization.
Academic text (2015) -
Low birthweight and recurrent lower respiratory tract infections in childhood are risk factors for impaired lung function in adult life.
Academic text (2011) -
Short-term voice problems are commonly associated with respiratory tract infections such as coughs, colds, and influenza.
Academic text (2011) -
The most frequently reported infections resulting in dose interruption were upper respiratory tract infection (1%), bronchitis, and herpes zoster (both <1%).
Academic text (2007)
Synonyms
7
3.5
A sickness that affects the nose, throat, airways, or lungs
An infection in the nose, throat, or lungs
How Severe
- Specialized
121
4.3
- Specialized
1
3.5
- Specialized
1
4.1
- Specialized
17
1.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
respiratory + tract + infection
The phrase is fully compositional: 'respiratory' specifies the breathing organs/airways, 'tract' denotes the bodily passage/system, and 'infection' denotes illness, so the combined meaning 'an infection of the respiratory tract' is directly derivable. Although somewhat medical in register, the constituent meanings map clearly to the overall concept and many languages use equivalent constructions, so a B1 learner who knows the parts would understand it.
Etymology
Respiratory tract infection breaks into three simple parts: respiratory means 'breathing', tract is the body's 'path' for air, and infection is when 'germs' make you ill. So it means germs have infected any part of the breathing system, like the nose, throat, airways, or lungs.