WE’VE gotten used to looking out for a cough, fever and loss of smell or taste.
But as Covid has evolved, so has the symptoms it inflicts on its victims.
New data has revealed what symptoms you can expect with the Omicron variant – the most dominant in the UK.
A report from the UK Health and Security Agency detailed how Omicron is different to Delta – the previous dominant Covid strain – based on more than 260,000 patients.
It said a sore throat was more commonly seen in people with Omicron – 53 per cent compared to 34 per cent of those with Delta.
The full list of symptoms more likely to be reported by Omicron patients are:
- A sore throat
- A fever
- A cough
- Diarrhoea
- Muscle ache or joint pain
These symptoms are not “the most common”, rather, the ones that are popping up more often than they used to.
The paper said that rashes, nausea or vomiting and fatigue were present in a similar proportion of people infected with either Delta or Omicron.
But some key Covid symptoms were less likely to strike those with Omicron.
These included altered consciousness, loss of appetite, shortness of breath and red or irritated eyes.
The largest difference was seen with loss of smell or taste, which has previously burdened millions of Covid patients.
Only 13 per cent of people with Omicron suffered loss of smell or taste, compared with 34 per cent of those with Delta.
UKHSA said this fitted with another analysis led by Oxford University and the Office for National Statistics, which found increased reports of sore throat and a marked reduction in loss of smell and taste.
However, UKHSA said that sore throats were generally higher in the population anyway, and this may explain the uptick in Omicron patients.
A headache, runny nose and sneezing also appeared to trouble fewer Omicron patients, UKHSA said.
But, according to data from another symptom tracking study, these are among the most commonly reported symptoms of the virus right now.
The ZOE COVID Symptom Study claims that headache, runny nose, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat are the most reported symptoms from app users with positive tests.
The team on ZOE, led by King’s College London, estimates that 52.5 per cent of people experiencing new “cold-like “ symptoms are likely to have Covid.
It means if you come down with a cold, it’s a 50/50 chance you are actually sick with Covid.
MORE MILD
The UKHSA report said people with Omicron generally had the same number of symptoms as someone with Delta (four).
It did not comment on the severity of illness.
But a string of hugely positive studies show Omicron IS milder than other strain.
The first official UK report from the agency suggested the level of vaccination and prior natural infections meant Omicron is causing milder symptoms.
It revealed the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.
Meanwhile, booster jabs are crucial for protection against Omicron, with data showing two doses are not enough.
A top-up shot gives more than an 80 per cent reduction in the risk of hospitalisation.
Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.
Trending In The News’s Jabs Army campaign is helping get the vital extra vaccines in Brits’ arms to help ward off the need for any new restrictions.
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