November 6th 2025

By Ailsa Colquhoun

DDA updates URTI dispenser education

Respiratory tract infections are a huge health issue – accounting for six per cent of the world’s global disease burden. They can affect either the upper respiratory tract (mouth, nose, nasal cavity, sinuses and throat) or the lower respiratory tract (the bronchi and lungs).

This updated module aims to arm practice dispensary staff with background knowledge of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) to help you improve your care of these common presentations.

Throughout this training, you will find various activities to help reinforce your learning. Ten, multiple choice questions at the end will help you identify any areas needing a quick recap

Aims

By the end of this article, you will:

•  Recognise the most common upper respiratory tract infections and their symptoms
• Be aware of at-risk groups and potential complications
• Know how to manage symptoms and the role of antibiotics and vaccinations
• Be alert to the signs and symptoms that require further referral

DDA members can access the module in the infections section of the online library of Dispenser Education Modules