Capitol Ear, Nose, and Throat, PA, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2013 Feb;33(1):45-60. doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2012.10.009. Epub 2012 Dec 21.
Anatomy, pathophysiology, epidemiology, and disease characteristics link the upper and lower airways. Nonspecific symptoms such as cough, congestion, shortness of breath, and recurrent infection may be related to the upper airway, lower airway, or both. Patients with the most severe disease often exhibit symptoms and findings of inflammation at both sites. Recent literature suggests that medical treatment and, when appropriate, surgical therapy directed at the upper airway can yield improvements in the lower airway. An understanding of the diagnosis and management of diseases at both sites will afford patients the best possible outcomes.
上下呼吸道在解剖、病理生理学、流行病学和疾病特征上相互关联。非特异性症状，如咳嗽、充血、呼吸急促和反复感染，可能与上呼吸道、下呼吸道或两者都有关。病情最严重的患者通常在上呼吸道和下呼吸道都表现出炎症症状和体征。最近的文献表明，针对上呼吸道的医疗治疗和适当的手术治疗可以改善下呼吸道。了解上下呼吸道疾病的诊断和治疗将为患者提供最佳的治疗效果。
