Man sitting on a case in a forest holding a cup from a thermos flask in his hand. He is gazing into the distance through trees with a small cloud of condensed breath in front of his face.

Respiratory system

The air passes through the mouth and nose, down the throat, past the larynx and vocal cords, and through the bronchial tubes into the lungs. From there, oxygen is released into the blood. Conversely, carbon dioxide is released from the lungs into the respiratory system for exhalation. Respiratory system disorders can hinder this vital process – and thus affect the body as a whole.

A doctor dropping liquid from a pipette onto a man’s forearm. Lines and test areas are marked out on the arm.

Allergies

An allergy occurs when the immune system has an overly sensitive reaction to a harmless substance such as plant pollen. There are various ways to treat an allergy.

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. Around 57,000 people get lung cancer every year in Germany.

A woman has her back bared. Another person listens to the woman’s lungs with a stethoscope.

Acute bronchitis

With acute bronchitis, the lower airways (bronchi) become temporarily inflamed. Initially, there is a dry cough but phlegm may later be coughed up from the airways.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

A persistent cough is the most obvious outward sign of COPD. It develops slowly over many years, as symptoms worsen. COPD commonly affects people who smoke or who have smoked in the past.

Asthma

Asthma is a condition that causes a narrowing of the airways. An asthma attack can make it difficult to breathe. Asthma can be treated effectively with medication.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia typically brings on a sudden high fever, coughing and breathlessness. People without any pre-existing conditions normally recover after a few weeks.

Hay fever

Many children and adults are affected by hay fever in the spring and summer months, when plants grow and bloom. It is caused by an allergic reaction to pollen in the air, affecting the upper airways.

Inflammation of the epiglottis (epiglottitis)

Inflammation of the epiglottis is usually caused by bacteria. Immediate treatment is required, as it can cause acute shortness of breath.

Swine flu

Flu is a common respiratory infection in pigs, caused by influenza viruses that occur primarily in these animals. In rare cases, people can become infected and ill as a result.

Bird flu (avian influenza)

Bird flu (avian influenza) primarily affects birds but can also be transmitted to humans through close contact with infected birds. Infection is rare but often has severe symptoms.

Sleep apnea: man lying in bed wearing a respiratory mask. He appears to be asleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) find it difficult to breathe while sleeping and have their breathing interrupted – usually without noticing it. So sufferers are very sleepy during the day.

False croup

False croup is a condition in the airways. It usually occurs in small children. Typical symptoms include a barking cough, a rasping sound when breathing in, and a slight shortness of breath.

Anthrax

Anthrax is a rare disease. It is transmitted to humans by animals. Certain occupational groups are at high risk of contracting the disease. Read more about symptoms, causes, and treatment.

Flu (influenza)

Many people confuse the flu with the common cold. Despite having similar symptoms, these two infections may develop differently. Flu begins suddenly, causing the sufferer to quickly feel very unwell.

Common cold

The first signs of a common colds are often sneezing and a sore throat. If rhinitis has fully kicked in, many people feel weak and ill.

A woman is sitting on a chair with a black cat on the backrest. She is holding a tissue to her face with one hand.

Animal allergy

In an animal allergy it is not the fur that causes a reaction, but proteins that are found in the animal’s saliva, for instance. Avoiding contact with the animal can help, as can taking medication.

A shower head with water droplets cascading from it.

Legionnaires’ disease (legionellosis)

Legionnaires’ disease is a respiratory disease caused by bacteria. It may or may not be accompanied by pneumonia. Infection results from water systems contaminated with Legionella bacteria.

Woman with her eyes closed coughing into her hand.

Whooping cough (pertussis)

Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease triggered by bacteria. The disease can put severe stress on the body and lasts a long time.

Hantavirus disease: mouse sitting in a metal cage.

Hantavirus infections

Hantaviruses cause a flu-like illness with fever. The kidneys are often also affected. Rodents such as rats and mice and their excretions are carriers of the virus.

Dust mite allergy

In dust mite allergies, it isn’t the dust itself that causes the symptoms. Instead, the symptoms such as sneezing are triggered by substances that are mainly found in the dust mites’ feces.

A doctor offering medication to a woman. She is holding up her hand to refuse it.

Medication allergy

Medication can also have undesired effects. These side effects include allergic reactions. When this happens, the immune system reacts to ingredients found in the medication.

Pneumonic plague

The plague is a highly contagious infectious disease, which can be cured by prompt treatment with antibiotics. It still occurs in rare cases in tropical and sub-tropical regions.

An elderly woman holds a hand to her chest.

Pulmonary embolism

A pulmonary embolism is when a blood vessel supplying blood to a lung gets blocked. This kind of blockage is an emergency as it can be life-threatening.

A man stroking the head of a dromedary camel.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)

MERS is a viral infection of the respiratory tract, which occurs predominantly on the Arabian Peninsula. The virus is mainly transmitted from dromedary camels to humans.

Laboratory work: A person in protective clothing and gloves with a pipette and sample test tube

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

SARS is an infectious disease of the lungs, which is caused by the SARS-CoV coronavirus. The virus first appeared at the end of 2002 and spread to more than 30 countries until the middle of 2003.

A laboratory worker wearing blue protective gloves fills out an evaluation sheet on a clipboard. He is holding a pen in his right hand and a sample container in his left.

Acidosis

Acidosis is a condition in which the body’s pH balance is disrupted. As a result, the pH value of the blood drops and becomes “acidic”. This acidity is usually due to an underlying illness.

A middle-aged woman in a tee shirt with one hand held over her chest area.

Pleural effusion

Pleural effusion is a build-up of fluid in the pleural space, i.e. the area between the lungs and the chest wall. Shortness of breath and chest pain are typical signs.

Man lying on a sofa. He is attached to a ventilator via a mask. There are various forms of medication on the table next to him.

Cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a rare, congenital metabolic disorder that cannot be cured. Treatments can help improve patients’ quality of life and life expectancy.

Tuberkulose: Eine Röntgenaufnahme des Brustkorbs. Eine rot-schwarze Verfärbung im linken Lungenflügel weist auf eine Tuberkuloseinfektion hin.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infectious disease most commonly affecting the lungs. It is relatively rare in Germany.