Fifty ambulatory upper respiratory tract infection patients were studied to evaluate the nature of their illness concerns and explore the relationship between these concerns and subsequent recovery. Thirty-four patients still had URI-related symptoms 1 week after their medical visit, whereas 16 were asymptomatic. In general, asymptomatic patients could not be distinguished from symptomatic patients in terms of demographic variables, symptom type or duration, initial level of health concerns, physician findings, culture results, or therapy. Further, both groups exhibited surprisingly high levels of initial concern. Asymptomatic patients had a significantly greater reduction in these concerns shortly after their visit than the symptomatic group (P less than 0.01). Asymptomatic patients also reported more benefit from discussion of their concerns (P less than 0.01) and more satisfaction with this aspect of their care than the symptomatic group (P less than 0.001). The notion of illness concerns appears to be a concept worthy of clinical consideration and further investigation.