Respiratory infection, especially among children is a very common health problem. It results in running nose, fever, chills and headache. Frequent respiratory infections increase the risk of development of asthma. Respiratory infections may be caused by either bacteria or viruses. Bacterial infections normally do not trigger off an asthmatic attack. This is because they can be easily cured with antibiotics. But, the symptoms of asthma, if present, may worsen if you have bacterial infections. The mucus secretion in the airways also increases during bacterial infections.

Although antibiotics cannot kill viruses, but most viral infections are self-limiting. This means that the body’s immune system destroys them after some time and hence the infection gets cured. Sometimes the viruses remain hidden inside the body cells and cause damage to the respiratory passages. They may travel from the nose into the bronchial tubes and cause increased mucus secretion and swelling of these tubes. Some viruses can change the structure of the inner lining of the respiratory passages. They can also alter the messages from the brain to the lungs and cause narrowing of the airways.

Asthmatic symptoms may worsen if you have sinusitis. Sinusitis is the term used for the swelling of sinuses due to allergies, irritants or chemicals. Sinuses are cavities in the skull located behind the cheekbones and above the eyes. The passages in the sinuses become blocked during sinusitis because of swelling and inflammation, which in turn causes pain and creates pressure on the sinuses. If you have asthma, this pain and pressure can stimulate nerve endings in your airways and result in their narrowing.

Common symptoms of sinusitis include ache between the eyes, stuffy nose or blocked ears, increased pressure or sensitivity around the eyes, sides of the nose or sides of the head.