SHARE:

Email AHRQ

Print

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections: The Common Cold

After viewing this presentation, viewers will be able to—

Describe how to diagnose a viral upper respiratory tract infection (URI), or the common cold, in children and adults
Explain why antibiotic therapy is not useful in the treatment of viral URI in children or adults
Describe treatment options to manage the symptoms of viral URI in the telemedicine setting in children and adults
Discuss strategies to communicate with patients the appropriate management of viral URI in the telemedicine setting for children and adults

Best Practices in Managing Patients with Viral Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (the Common Cold) Over Telemedicine Webinar – Slides (PDF, xx KB)

Best Practices in Managing Patients with Viral Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (the Common Cold) Over Telemedicine Webinar – Facilitator Guide (PDF, 4 MB)

Clinician Resources

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections/The Common Cold – Clinician One-Page Document (PDF, 166 KB)

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections – Sample Responses to Patient Portal Messages (PDF, 488 KB)

Patient Handout

This handout can be given to your patients to help them understand their infection and your antibiotic choices.

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections/The Common Cold – Patient Handout (DOCX, 406 KB)

Page last reviewed October 2026

Page originally created October 2026

Internet Citation: Upper Respiratory Tract Infections: The Common Cold. Content last reviewed October 2026. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD.
https://www.ahrq.gov/antibiotic-use/telemedicine/common-cold.html