Increase in Upper Respiratory Tract Infections.. The Scientific Committee for COVID-19 Warns: Take Precautions Without Panic

Dr. Hossam Hosny, head of the Scientific Committee for Combating Coronavirus at the Ministry of Health, stated that the winter season annually witnesses an increase in the activity of viruses causing upper respiratory tract infections, explaining that this is a normal global phenomenon and not limited to Egypt only.

Hosny added during a phone call on the "The Ladies" program on Al-Nahar channel, today Monday, that the current rise in infection rates is concentrated in the nose and throat without widely extending to the lower respiratory tract such as the bronchi and lungs, noting that various age groups are witnessing an increase in cases of upper respiratory tract infections.

He continued that the most common symptoms currently include: fever, sore throat, nasal congestion, bone pain, and in some cases ear pain, pointing out that the virus is widespread and the infection rate is high, emphasizing the need to exercise caution without entering a state of panic or anxiety.

Hosny indicated that the patient themselves is the primary source of infection, adding that after the fever disappears for 48 hours, the person is no longer contagious, regardless of whether the cough persists, explaining that the disease is transmitted through droplets and not breath, thus the infection spreads through coughing, sneezing, spitting, or speaking loudly.

He stressed the importance of maintaining a safe distance of at least one to two meters, confirming that the patient should wear a mask to reduce the spread of droplets.

The head of the scientific committee confirmed that viral infections are not treated with antibiotics, except in cases of secondary bacterial infection, and bacterial infection can be identified through changes in the color of secretions or phlegm, which determines the need for antibiotic use.