CBC Marketplace tested KN95 and KF94 masks sold online and at big box stores. Shutterstock. In the winter, when we experience cold and flu season, it can be hard to differentiate a COVID infection from other viruses. Sneezing. She noted also that these symptoms may only reflect certain populations. "It was really surprising, a lot of these sick patients that I was seeing, their oxygen saturations were extremely low and they just realized how short of breath they were when they came in.". Aside from classic Covid-19 symptoms, according to Dr. Singh, some of the distinguishing symptoms of the Omicron variant are: runny nose. What supplements should we really be taking? Viral Immunology. Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing. Cold-like symptoms - including a runny nose, sore throat and persistent sneezing - became more common, along with a headache and cough, particularly in people who had been vaccinated. Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 caused the vast majority of COVID-19 infections in 2022. . Written and produced by Andrea BellemareandVik Adhopia with files from Melanie Glanz. The top symptoms with Omicron infections, according to a ZOE study, are . By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Moreover, though they tend to cause less severe infections as compared to their predecessors, some symptoms seem to be common. Babcock says Omicron hasnt been around long enough yet to have a good sense of whether it is different from earlier variants when it comes to the likelihood of lingering symptoms. "Often the sore throat is the kind of [first] symptom, and then the rest kind of come on.". The omicron variant mostly affects the throat, therefore, most of the symptoms associated with this variant are upper respiratory problems. "What we're seeing with pretty early data is household attack rates are very, very high with Omicron, even compared to other variants of SARS-CoV-2, and that was already fairly high," said Oughton. BA.5 alone was responsible for 81% of cases in October 2022. A new variant of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), B.1.1.529 (Omicron) ( 1 ), was first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by South Africa on November 24, 2021. A mild infection then could still leave you with a high fever, chills and muscle aches, and kind of knock you out for a few days, she said. The omicron wave continues as reinfections become more common, with over 650 deaths reported on Aug. 2 and the daily average of COVID-19 related hospitalizations lingering around nearly 6,300, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Read on to learn more about the newest Omicron subvariant and its most common symptoms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to earlier CDC guidance, COVID symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 14 days after someone is exposed to the virus. Do Bivalent Boosters Protect Against XBB.1.5? Join AARP for just $9 per yearwhen you sign up for a 5-year term. The device monitors blood oxygen levels. . "Sometimes they don't realize how short of breath they are until it's too late, particularly in younger patients," she said. Its also important to get your booster shot, wear a mask, and avoid large crowds whenever possible. Because omicron symptoms can be mistaken for the common cold or flu, doctors urge anyone experiencing them to isolate until symptoms subside. Very sick patients often feel short of breath, says Dr. Lisa Salamon, an emergency physician with Scarborough Health Network in Toronto. ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. "If you want to be extra careful, you can do it at 10, but just with what we're seeing, I would consider you really in the clear. Add some good to your morning and evening. The Washington State Department of Health reported on Jan. 26 that 60 percent of Omicron patients reported having a headache, making it one of the most-common symptoms of the variant. Listen. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Omicron cases on the . People need to get their booster shots for the most protection. What kind of symptoms does this highly contagious variant present, you may wonder? Fact-checked on July 14, 2022, by Marley Hall, a writer and fact checker specializing in medical and health information. I have seen some cases of reinfection with people who had a BA.2 variant in the last few months, he added. Omicron BA.5 May Increase the Risk of Outdoor TransmissionHere's How to Stay Safe. As Gulick points out, getting booster shots is crucial. Are Symptoms of BA.4 and BA.5 More Severe? "People have to understand, if they feel sick, we don't want them not coming to the emergency department because they're scared. Clinicians said many BA.5 symptoms are similar to those seen in previous variants, including congestion, headaches, cough and fever. But if you're gonna do it once do it in five and I feel good about that.". again. Health officials arenow recommendingthat everyone 12 and older get an updated booster shot thats designed to better target omicron and its subvariants. Earlier this month the most common signs of Omicron symptoms were revealed after sufferers logged their ailments in an extensive ZOE Covid Study - with the top five remaining as runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and a sore throat. O'Connor says that many emergency departments across Canada are offering virtual consultations, and she suggests people try that first before coming to hospital. This particular subvariant is the most infectious of the Omicron collection of viruses, as the third iteration of Omicron that first began increasing breakthrough COVID-19 cases late last fall. Night sweats, another symptom cited by a doctor at a media briefing in South Africa early in the country's Omicron wave, has been touted by tabloids as "a telltale sign which only happens at night . Diarrhea. Common upper respiratory symptoms associated with omicron include the following: Cough. Learn how vehicle tech like blind spot warnings and drowsy driving alerts can help make driving safer. A person is also considered contagious before symptoms appear. All Rights Reserved, These 5 symptoms are the most common in omicron, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. Reuters. Occasionally there can be nausea and diarrhea, Gulick said. Chills. nausea or vomiting. It found five symptoms were the most common: Over 80% commonly reported a cough, while 72% experienced a sore throat. "This list is not all possible symptoms," the CDC states. Javascript must be enabled to use this site. The federal agencies based their approvals off several other pieces of safety data, including evidence from the original Covid vaccines the updated formulations are merely a tweak to those originals and lab data on the shots' BA.5 element in mice. Omicron-positive patients suffer from gut-related problems like Nausea, Diarrhoea, Vomiting, Abdominal pain, Heartburn and Bloating They may be all equally severe or present different . Their data indicates that the five most reported Omicron symptoms are the same as those associated with Deltasymptoms that may be confused with the common cold, including runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, and sore throat. In the case of gastrointestinal illness, a doctor should be consulted, and a test should be administered immediately. New confusion. The reformulated shots from Pfizer and Moderna are bivalent, which means they target both the original Covid strain and omicron's BA.5 and BA.4 subvariants. I'm going to work,'" Dr. Passaretti said. A U.K. study of around 750,000 people found recently that the top five symptoms for both the Delta and Omicron variants are currently a runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, and a sore throat . It isnt always the case that a new version of the coronavirus brings about a new batch of symptoms. World health leaders are warning that omicron, the new COVID variant discovered in November, could cause "severe consequences. "Especially in people who we're seeing these more mild breakthrough infections, we are definitely seeing sore throat be a predictor in that group," Arwady said. Copyright HT Digital Streams Limited All rights reserved. The four most common symptoms of the omicron variant are cough, fatigue, congestion and runny nose, according to a CDC analysis of the first 43 cases investigated in the . Until more people have been sick with BA.4 and BA.5 longer, it will be hard to pinpoint the specifics of these symptoms, Dr. Rutherford said. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea or diarrhea. Moderna's monovalent shot contains 50 micrograms of mRNA per dose targeting the original strain. Editor's Note: This story, originally published Jan. 10, 2022, has been updated to reflect new information. Keep checking this story for updates on vaccination rates, latest data updates of new cases and the omicron variant, along with local and national headlines.Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in OklahomaThe Oklahoma State Department of Health announced it will no longer release daily COVID-19 situation updates as it moves toward the . Did Woody Harrelson promote a COVID-19 anti-vaccine theory on Saturday Night Live? Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. ", As of May 9, 2022, national forecasts predict 90010,200 new #COVID19 hospitalizations will likely be reported on June 3. Those who are boosted and vaccinated, or those who are fully vaccinated and not yet eligible for a booster shot, do not need to quarantine, but should wear masks for 10 days and also get tested five days after the exposure, unless they are experiencing symptoms. In fact, when comparing variants, there are usually more symptom similarities than there are differences, says Scott Roberts, M.D., assistant professor and associate medical director of infection prevention at Yale School of Medicine. Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. What Are Symptoms of BA.4 and BA.5 Variants? Ask an Expert: Do I Really Need the Bivalent Booster? Rules and guidance around what to do are changing rapidly, but there are a few key things you need to know right now. Check with your local health center or testing site (find one oncovid.gov/tests) many are offering them for free. The Omicron variant is so transmissible and so widespread across Canadathat it's likely that you know someone who has it right now, or you have it yourself. ", "Even if it's a sore throat, no matter what it is," she said. Even if Omicron can feel like "just a cold to those fully vaccinated, it is much more transmissible. You're only eligible for the new boosters if you've completed a primary vaccination series, meaning most people will have already received at least two doses ahead of time. Inability to wake or stay awake. Babcock acknowledges that there is social fatigue with the pandemic and its safety precautionsbut says they remain important. "At the moment, we don't have medications that we can prescribe that someone can take at home. Here's a full list of known, potential COVID-19 symptoms for any individual, according to the CDC: Cough. Some symptoms of Omicron infection include fever, dry cough, runny nose, aches and pains, nausea and diarrhea. ", A Cleaning Expert Explains the Best Way to Clean Cloth Face Masks After You Wear Them Good Housekeeping, 35 Delicious Pantry Recipes That Use What's Already in Your Cabinets and Freezer Good Housekeeping, The Amish keep to themselves. Gulick says that even for those who are vaccinated, a reinfection rate may be as high as 30%. "Be mindful of your symptoms and test early for COVID so that you can take steps to protect others from infection, especially as it relates to events like these. Finally, dont forget all the preventive efforts that can help you dodge an omicron infection in the first place. Omicron BA.2 was the dominant . In this article, you'll learn: Common symptoms associated with the BA.2.12.1 strain; a full list of potential COVID-19 symptoms; Does the latest Omicron subvariant spread faster than others? Some people may experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. But other common COVID-19 symptoms, like cough, fever, and loss of smell or taste, are still important signs to watch out for with the Omicron . The symptoms that arise from a case of COVID-19 caused by the now-dominant omicron strain known as BA.5 don't seem to differ from those caused by its parent variant or any of the other omicron offshoots, experts say. Find a COVID-19 vaccine or booster near you: https://t.co/xbvNiaVJKV. This is a subscriber only feature Subscribe Now to get daily updates on WhatsApp. As with the symptoms themselves, it was too early as of September 2022 to tell just how severely the variants might affect patients. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), the most common symptoms of BA.5 are: Omicron and its subvariants are highly contagious theyre even known for reinfecting people who recently got over COVID-19. A sore throat and hoarse voice may also be more common among people infected with omicron, compared with delta, researchers in the U.K. discovered. Coronavirus or Cold Symptoms: How Do They Compare? Taking those steps will really help. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. Vomiting. Most reports indicate that even the latest Omicron subvariant doesn't lead to severe symptoms in breakthrough cases, nor a spike in hospitalizations or death outright. But it's also crucial to remember that no two COVID-19 illnesses are the same; it's entirely possible that an infection triggered by BA.2.12.1 may lead to early upper respiratory symptoms that resemble a cold or reaction to allergies, or it may simply present any of the other known COVID-19 symptoms entirely (including fatigue alone!). Side effect data isn't available yet because the new boosters were approved by the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before fully completing their clinical trials. If you're not vaccinated or boosted, I certainly have a much higher concern that you could get infected. Kashif J. Piracha, MD, FACP, FASN, FNKF, is a practicing physician at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. Digestive symptoms sometimes develop before a fever and respiratory symptoms. Others experience no symptoms at all. According to Reuters, Dr. Angelique Coetzee, a private practitioner and chair of South African Medical Association, said on Sunday that symptoms of the omicron variant were so far mild and could . If you can, isolate from the rest of your household. But Passaretti has heard that people with BA.5 or Omicron may experience worse fevers and sore throats. And ever since, vaccine and booster eligibility has only expanded. "Especially if you have compatible symptoms, take a negative result with not just one grain of salt, but with maybe a whole truckload of salt," said Oughton. Oughton noted that he is seeing fewer people who experience a loss of taste or smell with Omicron as compared to previous variants, although it is still happening to some. According to the CDC, the incubation period for COVID is between two and 14 days, though the newest guidance from the agency suggests a quarantine of five days for those who are not boosted, but eligible or unvaccinated. Its possible you have COVID-19 but took the test before the virus was detectable. Symptoms of Omicron infection may be different, too. Diarrhea; What is the COVID omicron variant? (Shilpa Thakur) Patients often get COVID diarrhea after being infected with Delta or Omicron . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky called them "more transmissible and more immune evading" than other Omicron variants in a 2022 White House press briefing. "People said, 'It's the worst sore throat I've ever had.' If you're thinking of getting an omicron-specific Covid booster shot, you might be wondering what its side effects are and how severe they might be. He also says that on top of vaccines, its important people wear masks, practice social distancing and avoid indoor crowds whenever possible. Dr. Katherine Poehling, an infectious disease specialist and member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices,told NBC Newsthat a cough, congestion, runny nose and fatigue appear to be prominent symptoms with the omicron variant. And like COVID-19, the influenza vaccine can help prevent serious flu complications from ever occurring. Dr. Oughton says other warning signs include persistent fever that lasts at least two days, if not more, and heart palpitations. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. The CDC says that its guidelines were updated to reflect growing evidence that suggests transmission of COVID-19 often occurs one to two days before the onset of symptoms and during the two to three days afterward. Omicron has been circulating in the U.S. for just about a year now, and in that time, researchers have learned more about the variant, including the symptoms it can cause. It'll just take a moment. Copyright 2022 HT Digital Streams Ltd All Right Reserved. Leading experts say you should take 3 upper respiratory symptoms seriously and test for COVID-19 sooner rather than later. Fatigue. Nearly 70% experienced a headache. "They may only feel like they have a cold," she said. According to the CDC, symptoms of Covid-19 include fever, shortness of breath, cough, loss of taste or . sore throat. The new shots have the same dosage amounts as the original vaccines, which further suggests that their safety profiles could be similar, Offit says. This abandoned high school was converted into a 31-unit apartment building, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, now available at pharmacies and clinics nationwide, held true during the last round of booster shots, Redness and swelling at the injection site.
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