OMICRON is now the dominant strain of Covid in the UK, so it’s important that you know the signs to look out for.
Most people who catch Omicron say they experience common cold symptoms, but there are other unexpected signs which have been reported.
Omicron has been proven to be milder than the variants that came before it such as Alpha and Delta.
Throughout the pandemic, people who have caught Covid have displayed an array of symptoms, with the NHS listing a new persistent cough, a high temperature and a loss of smell as the main signs to watch out for.
Data previously revealed that the three most common Omicron signs plaguing Brits are a cough, fatigue and headache.
Covid cases dropped today by 21 per cent, but over 88,000 Brits still tested positive for the virus.
A further 88,085 cases were reported today, bringing the total number of Brits infected since the start of the pandemic to 17,515,199.
It’s important that if you feel unwell then you get a coronavirus test – especially as feeling a bit under the weather might not just be from you feeling run down.
1. Stomach issues
US medic, Dr Bill Admire said most people who caught the Delta variant would suffer some form of respiratory issue – with upper respiratory issues being the key factor.
“But with Omicron, patients with gastrointestinal problems are flaring up and having more symptoms”, he said.
Professor Tim Spector, from the ZOE Covid Symptom Study, told the Sun Online the variant could be settling in the gut rather than the nose.
This means, when people are infected and experiencing gut symptoms like an upset stomach they will test negative – as there won’t be traces of Omicron in the nose or mouth.
The expert explained: “We know that the virus tries to enter the mouth or nose, and shows up in the respiratory system or the lungs.
“And it sometimes goes into the gut and people who have long Covid – they’ve found traces of the virus in the gut that can last a long time.
“We know that this virus travels to different parts of the body. It’s possible that Omicron or another variant is attacking the gut.
“And this would not be showing in the nose – so you could have a gut infection but not show up as positive.
“We could be missing quite a few cases simply by swabbing the nose.”
2. Issues down below
We usually think of Covid causing respiratory problems.
But the evidence shows that the virus can enter – and therefore likely cause damage to – the blood vessels of the penis, too.
People contracting Covid have reported damage to blood vessels and blot clots with others also reported long-lasting erections.
Medics first reported Covid-related priapism in a 69-year-old man in Ohio, US, who later died of the virus.
A poor 12-year-old boy endured a 24-hour erection before being seen by doctors in Vienna, Austria.
Erectile dysfunction and penile shrinking have also been reported in various Covid patients.
3. Skin problems
Noticing that you or a loved one has pale, grey or blue coloured skin could be a warning sign of Omicron.
It is a rare complication in serious Covid cases which means oxygen levels in the blood are low.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said it is an “emergency warning sign”.
People testing positive for Covid have also experienced a number of other skin issues, namely Covid toes.
It can present as red, inflamed toes sometimes with a rash. This can be sore and itchy, with blisters and swelling.
The affected toes, although some fingers have been reported too, can look red or purple.
Some patients can also get raised painful bumps or pus. Other patients have presented with hives, sore lips and dry skin.
4. Aches and pains
The most commonly felt symptoms of Covid are a runny nose, headache, fatigue, altered smell and a low appetite.
But an earache has been noted as a regular symptom for people who test positive for the variant – especially by those who have been vaccinated.
Unusual joint pains have also been added to the list of common symptoms, with fewer cases reporting feeling down and a loss of smell.
