Expert Opinion: A Call for Early and Appropriate Symptomatic Treatment in Acute Respiratory Infections to Prevent Escalation.

Acute respiratory infections are highly prevalent and significantly impair quality of life and productivity. Despite their impact, they are often not managed according to best medical practice. A lack of knowledge about symptomatic therapies leads to mis- and under-treatment. Thus, this narrative expert opinion paper aims to highlight the importance of appropriate and early symptomatic treatment in order to assist informed therapeutic decision making and advance efforts to reduce antibiotics misuse. Clinical and mechanistic evidence supports the use of several herbal and synthetic non-antibiotic treatment options. While acute respiratory infections are usually self-limiting, treatment alleviates symptom severity, reducing the risk of inflammatory escalation. Timing of the intervention is crucial, as early initiation shortens illness duration. In conclusion, optimizing the management of acute respiratory infections could relieve the individual and societal burden of illness and slow the increase in antimicrobial resistances.