Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are among the most common diseases encountered in primary medical care. Recurrent URTIs (RURTIs) considerably affect patient health and quality of life. Recent evidence indicates that increased attention is being paid to symptom improvement in clinical practice. However, the therapeutic opportunities associated with using a vector for improving the immune status of patients remain underestimated. As the most common sources of URTI are viral infections, antiviral agents with the potential to enhance host immune responses can be considered auxiliary, effective, and safe for children and adults with URTIs and RURTIs. This review reports the current evidence and expert opinions on immunity-targeted approaches in the management of viral URTIs. Undelayed diagnosis and initiating treatment in the early stages of URTIs are crucial elements that can significantly improve disease evolution and the overall health of patients of any age group. An immunomodulatory remedy would be optimal for facilitating the healing of acute infections, reducing recurrence and complications, antibiotic consumption, and the consequences of antibiotic overuse. Maintaining and protecting the intestinal microbiota is also an important step toward effective URTI treatment. The findings of this review provide valuable insights into the effective management of URTIs and RURTIs based on the latest clinical evidence.

Dpt of Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine Faculty of Medicine Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice and University Hospital of L Pasteur in Košice Košice Slovakia

Institute for Postgraduate Medical Education Prague Department for Tropical and Travel Medicine Prague Czechia

Semmelweis University Department of Pulmonology Budapest Hungary

Smolensk State Medical University Smolensk Russia

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