In Okemos, Dr. Dennis Perry at Meridian Primary Care, a partner of Ingham Regional Medical Center, is treating upper respiratory infection.

Dr. Perry is seeing a nasty one with the following symptoms: sore throat, laryngitis, and productive cough. The worst of the symptoms last five to seven days, with the cold lingering for a few weeks.

Dr. Perry has been seeing some secondary sinusitis following this bug.

Many upper respiratory infections will clear up on their own with some at-home care measures.

You should rest, take ibuprofen to ease a sore throat, and drink fluids to prevent dehydration.

You can also take over-the-counter-cold medications for symptom relief, but Dr. Perry says sometimes they can slow down your recovery because they dry up nasal secretions.

Call a doctor if your symptoms don't improve after seven days, or if there is high fever.

Be on the lookout for sinusitis, as Dr. Perry has been seeing some secondary sinusitis after the initial infection has cleared up.

Sinusitis is the infection or inflammation of the lining of the sinus cavities.