Table 1 Characteristics of Medicaid patients with an upper respiratory tract infection (URI) episode (n = 69,936)

Age (years)

   0–5

20,213 (28.9%)

   6–21

21,843 (31.2%)

   22–44

17,125 (24.5%)

   45 and older

10,755 (15.4%)

Gender

   Male

26,602 (38.0%)

   Female

43,334 (62.0%)

Race

   White

58,663 (83.9%)

   Nonwhite

11,273 (16.1%)

Number of URI episodes in one year

   1

46,765 (66.9%)

   2

13,839 (19.8%)

   3 or more

9,332 (13.3%)

Diagnosis of index URI episode

   Acute bronchitis

19,344 (27.7%)

   Common cold

1,818 (2.6%)

   Influenza with respiratory symptoms

1,682 (2.4%)

   Acute URI, other sites or not specified

47,092 (67.3%)

Presence of concurrent acute illnesses

   Any acute condition

10,012 (14%)

   Otitis media

5,505 (8)

   Acute sinusitis

2,373 (3)

   Chronic sinusitis

1,023 (1)

   Pneumonia

575 (< 1)

   Strep pharyngitis

540 (< 1)

   Cellulitis

117 (< 1)

   Urinary tract infection

68 (< 1)

   Bacteremia

13 (< 1)

History of chronic comorbid conditions*

   Yes

1,763 (2.5%)

   No

68,173 (97.5%)

Physician specialty for index URI episode

   Family practice, general practice or internal medicine

28,320 (40.5%)

   Pediatrics

4,139 (5.9%)

   Emergency medicine

4,411 (6.3%)

   Other specialty

33,066 (47.3%)

Season of index URI episode

   Winter

24,575 (35.1%)

   Spring

15,786 (22.6%)

   Summer

10,650 (15.2%)

   Fall

18,925 (27.1%)