Why Test for Respiratory Co-Infections?

A respiratory co-infection is when you have two or more viruses causing an infection in your respiratory tract at the same time. For example, many individuals who experience Covid-19 also develop bacterial pneumonia. When these two infections are present at the same time, or any other respiratory infections, it is called a respiratory co-infection.

It’s important to test for respiratory co-infections for several reasons. One reason is that different respiratory infections may require different treatments. For example, it’s common to develop bacterial pneumonia if you have the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Bacterial pneumonia requires antibiotics to treat, while RSV treatment involves managing symptoms until the virus runs its course, as antibiotics have no effect on viral infections. In this way, getting tested for respiratory co-infections ensures you receive the treatment you need for each infection.

Another reason why it’s important to test for respiratory co-infections are to determine the probable outcome of your illness. Just as different respiratory infections require different treatments, they also typically involve different recovery timelines. Some respiratory infections last longer than others or have a longer contagious or symptomatic period. It’s important for you as a patient to know these timelines so you can take the proper precautions. Thus, testing for respiratory co-infections will help you and your doctors know how to take the best care of your illness.

A common reason for respiratory co-infections is the weakening of your immune system with the initial infection. For example, you may acquire a routine influenza virus, but as your immune system gathers resources to fight that virus, its guard may be down and allow a secondary pathogen to infect your respiratory tract. This cause of co-infections is especially common in individuals who already have compromised immune systems.

Another potential cause of respiratory co-infections is the presence of a pre-existing pathogen in your respiratory tract causing little to no symptoms. In these cases, the introduction of another pathogen to your respiratory tract can accentuate that pre-existing pathogen and cause a respiratory co-infection to occur.

Tests for respiratory co-infections are important because they determine the ways that your doctor should treat your respiratory illness. They also inform you of what you can expect with your illness and what steps you should take to recover from it. Tests for respiratory co-infections are especially important for individuals with compromised immune systems, as the interactions between different infections can cause harmful effects and pose too much of a threat for your immune system to handle properly. 

Various laboratories and clinics will test for respiratory co-infections. If you’re looking for an urgent care clinic that provides testing for respiratory co-infections in Palm Bay, Florida, or the surrounding area, you can find what you’re looking for at Restore Health Urgent Care. Our medical practitioners and lab technicians can test for respiratory co-infections, diagnose them, and provide effective and compassionate treatment.

If you’d like more information about how we test and treat respiratory co-infections at Restore Health Urgent Care, we welcome you to give us a call! For an appointment with one of our practitioners, feel free to contact us, schedule an appointment through our website, or visit our clinic for a walk-in appointment. You can visit us from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM from Monday to Friday or on the weekend from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We are conveniently located at 1840 Eldron Blvd SE. Suite 1 Palm Bay, FL 32909. We serve patients from Palm Bay FL, Malabar FL, Mintons Corner FL, West Melbourne, FL, June Park FL, Melbourne Village, FL, and surrounding areas.