Stay Alert But Don't Panic To Face Omicron, Recognize The Symptoms

Illustration of Omicron (Photo: Pexels)

JAKARTA - The significant increase in positive cases of COVID-19 due to the Omicron variant has caused public panic. The government has prepared various handling strategies and reflects on the experience of dealing with waves one and two of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The statement by the Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi, asked the public not to panic. Although cases are increasing, the positive cases recorded and hospitalized show mild symptoms.

According to the Director of the Hospital for Infectious Diseases (RSPI), Prof. DR Sulianti Saroso Jakarta, Mohammad Syahril, what must be understood about the Omicron variant is that it transmits very quickly, has mild symptoms, but can avoid the antibodies that are formed.

Syahril said the symptoms of the Omicron variant are actually almost the same as the symptoms of the previous variants, namely fever, cough, and itching in the throat, especially in mild to moderate degrees. According to Syahril, there are no distinctive and special symptoms that are different from the delta variant and other variants.

While in moderate, severe to critical, depending on the severity. For example, if in severe degrees experience shortness of breath and disturbances in the digestive system.

But in essence, this disease attacks the respiratory system, so if you experience shortness of breath, you need High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) oxygen which is very high pressure, and even patients need a ventilator if they are very critical.

The Lung Doctor at the Friendship Central General Hospital (RSUP) Erlina Burhan said the most common symptoms found in patients treated at the East Jakarta hospital were coughing and sore throat.

Quoted from ANTARA, Erlina said coughing and sore or itchy throat were typical symptoms of the omicron variant, in contrast to delta, where most of the patients had fever.

Of the patients who were treated, only about 18 to 20 percent had fever, while during the delta variant, almost 90 percent had symptoms of fever. None of the patients with known omicron and possibly exposed to the new variant had shortness of breath or needed a ventilator.

It shows that there is no damage to the lungs. Based on the data it is known that omicron develops in the upper respiratory tract.

So, according to Elina, the symptoms are only mild, if people know someone has a cough, sore throat or itchy throat for the current condition of omicron, we suspect that it is omicron. Don't wait for fever, especially if there is a history of contact with the patient, so get yourself checked immediately.