But COVID-19 can cause symptoms you may not expect, including:. 2 Omicron Symptoms In Country Where It Originated, According to South Africa's biggest private health insurer, South Africans with an Omicron infection often develop. COVID-19 and a stomach bug can both cause GI symptoms such as stomachache, vomiting, and diarrhea. In this photo, a shopper in . Viruses that can cause diarrhea include Norwalk virus (also known as norovirus), enteric adenoviruses, astrovirus, cytomegalovirus and viral hepatitis. Meanwhile, blood in the poo was a very rare side-effect that was reported by just two patients. Short answer: doctors think so. Your session has expired, please login again. Nausea. Vomiting is a tell-tale sign of BA.5 COVID infection in kids, a pediatrician says. Below, experts explain everything they've learned about Omicron symptoms and infections so far and what Americans should know if they expect they're experiencing an Omicron-related sickness. Fatigue, or muscle and body aches. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states, "People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Wait at least 4 hours if you can, Yang advised, but don't hesitate to take the medication if you're really in pain. Early data indicates that Omicron's incubation periodthe time it takes for an infected person to develop symptoms after exposure to the virusmay be significantly shorter than with previous variants: Previously, it was about a week, while Omicron may develop in three days or less. stuffy nose. Doctors said the symptom could be because of low levels of oxygen going to the brain, or a result of the virus' direct attack on the brain. 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View our online Press Pack. Thought it was . And this would not be showing in the nose - so you could have a gut infection but not show up as positive," Tim Spector, ZOE Covid Symptom Study's Professor, told The Sun. . Health officials have advised that the Omicron variant is more infectious and could lead to further breakthrough cases. To help alleviate arm soreness, the CDC suggests stretching, exercising and gently using the arm. . Skipped meals. We're still seeing the usual list of symptoms that we would expect with COVID-19: fever, fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, and then loss of smell and taste. Diarrhea. Studies reveal people infected with the Omicron BA.2 show gut-related symptoms.On being infected, patients are complaining of nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, heartburn, bloating But that may have more to do with people's vaccination status than the virus itselfbecause more people than ever are vaccinated, it's possible Omicron just seems milder. It has also cautioned that Omicron is not mild, though it might be milder than Delta. It could be due to Omicron infection, and experts say one should get tested for Covid if you have these abdominal complaints even without respiratory symptoms or fever. Omicron though has been harder to identify as it has been found to blend in with other symptoms of seasonal illnesses such as flu or the common cold. Oops! At that point, those who are between the ages of 12 and 17 can receive the updated Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 booster. A little more miserable overall. Flashback: Gastrointestinal symptoms have been mentioned as possible symptoms . People have plenty of questions about this newly-detected strain of COVID-19, including the symptoms of Omicron, how Delta differs from Omicron, how deadly the Omicron variant is and whether current COVID-19 tests will detect Omicron. Fatigue. Diarrhea was slightly more common with omicron. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly evolves and the scientific communitys understanding of the novel coronavirus develops, some of the information may have changed since it was last updated. Furthermore . "Every patient I've seen with Covid that's had a 3rd 'booster' dose has had mild symptoms. Can You Get Omicron and Delta COVID-19 Variants at the Same Time? Unusual muscle pains. Rashes, including the sudden onset of itchy hives, have also been reported in Covid patients. Swollen glands. Sore throat. If you experience a sudden onset of these symptoms, you're encouraged to check with your doctor. She is a graduate of NYU's Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program and has a background in psychology and neuroscience. Here's what research has shown about the connection. Current vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths due to infection with the Omicron variant. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. Long Covid may lead to reduced brain oxygen levels, cog Zombie apocalypse: Fungus creating havoc in The Last of What's time on moon? Coronavirus (COVID-19) may cause gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain more often than is commonly known, early research from China shows. And if you're already fully vaccinated, getting booster shots can provide further protection. Gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea aren't uncommon in people with COVID-19. Diarrhea can occur for many reasons - an infection (either viral or bacterial), a food intolerance, a reaction to medications or a chronic disease (IBS or Crohn's disease). Nausea or vomiting. People should also be aware that diarrhoea is not just a possible symptom of Covid but also features in numerous medical conditions. Because omicron symptoms can be mistaken for the common . By now it's a known fact that Omicron BA.2 spreads faster than the previously identified subvariant BA.1. He has written about food and dining for Time, among other publications. Copyright 2022 HT Digital Streams Ltd All Right Reserved. Number of steps you need to burn off calories from crisps to pizza revealed, Warning as 3 people in UK test positive for rare skin disease spread by cats, How a simple tweak to your daily routine could help you shed pounds, Warning as bowel cancer surges in young people - the signs to know, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, 'Covid toes' involves toes turning red and purple with swelling, burning, or itching also reported, Loss of appetite and nausea are other warning signs of an infection, A foot rash known as 'Covid toe' can also affect the hands, doctors say, As symptoms vary, doctors warn that you should treat any illness like Covid until you are tested, Don't mistake this 'very strange' Omicron symptom for common cold, doctors warn, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone. Cough. The most common Covid symptom was loss of appetite, which affected 24 per cent of patients, according to the study published in theLancetmedical journal. The multiple mutations in its spike protein are definitely concerning, says Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York. The symptom is an inflammatory skin condition that, outside of Covid infections, is often seen after someone is exposed to extremely cold conditions. In the December 17, 2021, issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an analysis of the first 43 cases of the Omicron variant that were reported in the U.S. That research showed that the most commonly reported symptoms among those patients were cough, fatigue, and congestion or runny nose. Read onand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unlike previous variants, loss of taste and smell seems to be uncommon, she said. .css-lwn4i5{display:block;font-family:Neutra,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-0.01rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;text-align:center;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-lwn4i5:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}How to Make Friends as an Adult. According to the CDC, the Omicron variant spreads more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Delta variant. Data from the ZOE COVID Study app found that those infected during the Omicron wave were 25% less likely to be admitted to the hospital than patients infected during the Delta wave. These boosters may better protect against COVID-19 infections with the variants currently circulating specifically BA.4 and BA.5. So, before you get your next shot, here's what you need to know about the side effects you might experience and experts' advice to make them bearable while your body builds up that crucial immune response. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. "The people may initially present with abdominal symptoms without any respiratory complaints. Try to time your shot for a day in which you don't have much going on so that, if you do have to take it easy, you won't be missing much. ", RELATED: This Common Habit Makes Your Dementia Risk Soar, 6 The Difference Between Omicron and the Flu, "Usually, the only way to tell is to get tested," Dr. Cioe-Pea explains. Runny nose. Muscle or body aches. For instance, I contracted COVID in early January and because I was frequently testing, I was able to isolate myself in my home and no one in my family, including my 4-year-old unvaccinated daughter, subsequently got COVID. The genetic makeup of Omicron is vastly different compared to other COVID-19 strains that experts have seen, explains Gwen Murphy, M.D., Ph.D., an epidemiology expert and director currently at testing company Let'sGetChecked. Read onand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID. "That's a heck of a lot more disruptive to your life than just the sore arm and it has the potential to be even worse if you get really sick.". Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Fatigue. Congestion or runny nose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided a list of emergency warning signs that need immediate emergency medical care: Anyone suffering from these symptoms is urged to call 911 or your local emergency facility. Were still investigating what the increase in reports of gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhoea, skipped meals and abdominal pain, which were prevalent with previous variants, means now since the increase doesnt appear to be linked with those who test positive for Omicron," a study by Zoe had stated. Doctor Smith said symptoms shouldn't be ignored, even if you think you may be suffering from only the common cold. Popular Mobile Games You Must Play In 2023, surge, Omicron continues to spread quickly and in just under three months, the variant has infected millions of people. Omicron, the latest variant of concern, is spreading fast as scientists across the world conduct studies to understand it better, and is likely to become a dominant strain soon. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Loss of smell or taste. ", 4 Why is Omicron Less Severe Than Alpha and Delta in Many People, According to Dr. Cioe-Pea, "Omicron is milder COVID than previous variants, likely because a lot of the mutations that make it more infectious look similar to mutations in coronaviruses that cause the common cold. For those with Johnson & Johnson who were not boosted, he wrote the . One omicron side effect doctors are seeing is night sweats, with Covid sufferers reporting waking up to soaked sheets. More coughing. She also adds that it may be that the Omicron strain has similar features to the common cold or adenoviruses, which are highly transmissible. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Muscle or body aches. That suggests that Omicron may be more infectious than other variants, he says. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Runny nose. Headache. Yet the spread can be offset by all vaccinated Americans receiving a booster shot. They say the rare complication in serious Covid cases meansoxygen levels in the blood are low. Tips to regain stamina by an expert. Muscle or body aches. Dr. Thomas Murray agreed: "Far and away I think the most common side effect that people will see will be pain at the injection site," Murray, associate professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the Yale School of Medicine, told TODAY. That study compared the COVID-19 symptoms that people recorded during a week in Octoberbefore the Omicron variant was known to be in Londonand a week in Decemberafter the variant was confirmed to be in London. Another study published in October 2020 pointed out that even with the initial COVID wave in Wuhan, China, about 12% of a group of coronavirus patients reported nausea and 10% reported vomiting. They get a little pain in the arm, they get a little swelling.. Diarrhea. Headache. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. The highly contagious omicron variant now accounts for most new cases in the United States. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed data from 43 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. caused by Omicron and found that patients generally had these symptoms: One doctor who has treated Omicron patients in South Africa told the BBC in late November that people infected with the variant early on had extremely mild symptoms.. Does Omicron cause more gastrointestinal symptoms or fatigue than other variants? Cough. Your hands can be affected too and the condition can last weeks or months, doctors say. Copyright HT Digital Streams Limited All rights reserved. The incubation period for COVID-19 is from two to 14 days, with a median time of four to five days, the CDC says. "Even if you think it's just allergies, it would be best for you to go ahead and get a COVID test and make sure you don't have it before you go to work or school or church, because those symptoms can be very mild," said S. Wesley Long, medical director of diagnostic microbiology at Houston Methodist hospital, this week. In the event of a breakthrough case, victims are highly unlikely to be hospitalized with severe or deadly symptoms from the virus. 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. Case in point: Omicron is rapidly taking over in London, where its expected to be the dominant strain of COVID-19 within days, British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said in a press conference on Monday, per Reuters. They reported that the top five symptoms related to the variant were: Runny nose. Although . According to the agency, the most common signs of COVID include: Fever or chills. Dr. Cioe-Pea says, "The first signs tend to be congestion and other symptoms of an upper respiratory infection (sore throat, etc). "Hopefully, people now recognize the cold-like symptoms which appear to be the predominant feature of Omicron," Tim Spector, lead scientist of the study app behind the data, the ZOE COVID Study app, said in a press release. Ashley Abramson is a freelance writer based in Milwaukee, WI. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Cough. Cornell Omicron Variant Outbreak Shutters the Vaccine-mandated Campus. Predict the closing value of sensex and win free subscription. Scientists have also noted that loss of smell and taste appear to be less common among people recently testing positive for this latest strain. They've often been associated with those who are feeling mild COVID-19 symptoms, including children, according to Insider. Always talk to your doctor for professional medical advice. They may be all equally severe or present different severities depending on the symptom. With other variants, like Delta, vaccines have remained effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Diarrhea. As more information about the coronavirus pandemic develops, some of the information in this story may have changed since it was last updated. While you may have heard that Omicron symptoms are mild, doctors say thats not necessarily the full story. So Does the Omicron Variant Only Cause Mild Symptoms? Headache. Diarrhea can also potentially cause stomach growling. Doctor Davey Smith, UCSD Chief of Infectious Diseases and Global Health, told local CBS affiliate KFMB that it is a "very strange" symptom that accompanies a "bucket of crazy symptoms" attributed to the virus. There hasnt been exact data on Omicrons incubation period, but Dr. Schaffner says its possible that Omicrons incubation period is shorter than that of other COVID-19 variants. More data is needed to conclude if Omicron infections cause more severe illness or death compared to infections with other variants and how effective vaccines are against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths. Omicron can affect your gut apart from upper respiratory tract and the abdominal symptoms are becoming common in people infected with the new strain. "It does seem that [Omicron] symptoms may be more mild issues like scratchy throat, fatigue or headache compared to more severe symptoms such as fever and respiratory failure. Because omicron symptoms can be mistaken for the common cold or flu, doctors urge anyone experiencing them to isolate until symptoms subside.