The kitten must be taken to a vet for treatment.
An upper respiratory infection is contagious for as long as the active virus is in your system. Taking an antibiotic will help rid the body of the live virus. You will remain contagious for 24 hours following the first treatment of the antibiotic.
Pneumonia is a respiratory condition in which there is infection of the lung. Upper respiratory tract infections are the illnesses caused by an acute infection which involves the upper respiratory tract: nose, sinuses, pharynx or larynx. An example would be the common cold.
The upper respiratory system removes gross particles from the air, warms and humidifies it, and passes it to the lower respiratory system.
You are far better advised to visit the vet and get a prescription that is made for cats. Feline metabolism is different enough from human that drugs that are harmless to humans will kill cats; plus the necessary dosage is very different, even for those drugs that are used for cats. Typically, your vet will prescribe Clavamox, which contains amoxycillin, a member of the penicillin family which is still somewhat effective.
Since the flu is a severe upper respiratory infection caused by a virus, antibiotics cannot affect them as viruses are not living and antibiotics only affect living microbes.
As air passes along the upper respiratory tract, it is warmed, moistened and filtered. The mucous membranes and cilia help these processes.
Shipping fever is more common in cattle than in horses. However, you could help alleviate the fever with some phenylbutazone. Shipping fever is a multiple infection syndrome, generally involving a primary viral infection of the upper respiratory system complicated by a secondary bacterial infection.
Are you inquiring about upper respiratory infections, such as sinus or bronchitis?
Prednisone decreases inflammation in the airways and may help symptoms, but will not treat an infection. In fact, Prednisone hinders the body's ability to fight infection.
Cilia
In the upper respiratory tract, you have ciliated cells and mucosal glands that help keep particles out of the lower respiratory tract. Where the very thin type 1 cells faciliate gas exchange.
Cells in ciliated columnar epithelia. Primarily in the upper respiratory passages (where they help sweep out the mucus-trapped particles) and in the Fallopian tube (to help move the ovum towards the uterus).