title: Common infections in ambulatory patients.
abstract: Most illnesses in ambulatory patients are infections; most of these are upper, middle, or pararespiratory infections. Although these diseases are rarely serious, they result in immense amounts of time lost from work and incalculable expense for over-the-counter medications. Guidelines for antibiotic and other drug therapy for these diseases need a better scientific foundation.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000453:epidemiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D014922:Wisconsin