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Pitt Co. Doctors: Late Summer Respiratory Infections Increase Normal

By: Brittany Gunter/ April Davis
By: Brittany Gunter/ April Davis

It's the end of summer, but many in our area feel like they have a winter cold. Do you have chills, body aches, and a cough? You could have an upper respiratory infection that's getting passed around.

Pitt County doctors say they have been dealing with a spike in upper respiratory infections, but that is actually normal for this time of the year.

Officials at ECU Health Services say because kids are now heading back to school a lot of germs going around. A doctor tells WITN, right now URIs are one of the top 5 things that they are treating students for. ECU senoir Sonjia Flowers says she knows first hand just how bad the bug can be because she's dealing with it right now.

"It's kind of frustrating because you have to miss class to go to the doctor because you're just not feeling good," said Flowers.

Doctors say the best way to avoid getting sick is to wash you hands or use sanitizer, try not to touch door knobs, and don't share food or drinks. The say it's especially important to educate your kids on being healthy as they head back to school. We spoke with several school systems in the east who say they have *not* noticed a spike in absences due to sickness.

