ABSTRACT:
Importance: Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs) pose a significant health burden globally, affecting individuals of every age and sexes. Comprehending the clinical attributes, epidemiology, and therapeutic approaches of URTIs is crucial for efficacious public health endeavours. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether URTIs are specific to an assigned gender, what age group they most commonly affect, how well-informed patients are about URTIs, how common the disease is, understanding the basic symptomatology and the therapeutic approaches to overcome the ailment. Methods: A total of 150 patient records were collected and analysed in our retro-prospective cross-sectional observational study. Main outcomes: Analysis suggested a higher incidence of URTIs in males compared with females, with young individuals aged >18 to <30 years having been among the most impacted group. Patient awareness about URTIs was substantial with 84% of the sample population illustrating awareness. Common cold appeared as the most prevalent URTI, affecting 86.5% of patients, with symptoms such as cough, fever, sore throat, and rhinorrhoea being the most common. We discovered that a significant majority of patients, comprising 66% of the study sample, were prescribed Azithromycin. To alleviate symptoms, Paracetamol was administered to 62.7% of the participants, while Levocetirizine was utilized in 45.0% of the cases. Conclusion: The results of the study demonstrate the clinical burden of URTIs, especially in young people and men. Effective URTI management and prevention need patient education and focused treatments. The cornerstone of treatment for URTIs continues to be symptomatic care; antibiotics are preserved for certain circumstances. In order to address the problems caused by URTIs and enhance patient outcomes, more investigation and community-based treatments are necessary.