From “Just a Cold” to “Could It Be Something Serious?”: Changing Perceptions of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in the Post-Pandemic Era

From “Just a Cold” to “Could It Be Something Serious?”: Changing Perceptions of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in the Post-Pandemic EraNarrative ReviewAbstractUpper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are among the most common conditions in otorhinolaryngology and primary care. Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, symptoms such as rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, sore throat, cough, headache, malaise, and low-grade fever were generally considered familiar, self-limiting manifestations of the common cold or seasonal respiratory infections. The COVID-19 pandemic fundamenta