"So if you're feeling at all under the weather, please make sure that you get a test, make . Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Fatigue, or muscle and body aches. Sneezing. Susan Huang, M.D., the medical director of epidemiology and infection prevention at UCI Health in Orange County, indicates that current data available to healthcare providers suggest this latest Omicron subvariant is highly contagious. The B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) was first detected in specimens collected on November 11, 2021, in Botswana and on November 14 in South Africa;* the first confirmed case of Omicron in the United States was identified in California on December 1, 2021 (1).On November 29, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services was notified of six . "We aren't seeing at this point in timealthough we continue to monitor closelya steep increase in our number of ICU stays or deaths from COVID," Dr. Passaretti said. WATCH | Tips for treatingyour Omicron symptoms: If you can, it's important to get vaccinated or boosted. You can treat the milder symptomscough, sore throat, runny noseat home. Very sick patients often feel short of breath, says Dr. Lisa Salamon, an emergency physician with Scarborough Health Network in Toronto. Diarrhea was slightly more . Another consideration: Shortly after omicron burst on the scene, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized twoantiviral medicationsthat can help keep a mild infection from progressing to a serious one. Severe side effects are "generally" most common after receiving a second dose of a vaccine, not after receiving a third or fourth dose, says Offit. In case you contract COVID, diarrhea can hit you on the first day of your infection and might increase in intensity during the first week of illness. According to earlier CDC guidance, COVID symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 14 days after someone is exposed to the virus. Free online workshop! More than 101.3 million people have received a COVID-19 booster dose. This is a subscriber only feature Subscribe Now to get daily updates on WhatsApp. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. This is likely how BA.2.12.1 is spreading quite rapidly; in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut alone, the viral subvariant is tied to upwards of 70% of new infections alone, per recent reports. BA.2.12.1 cases are coming at a time when spring allergies are affecting many Americans, which is why it's crucial to identify potentially misleading symptoms and consider COVID-19 testing sooner. A problem, however, is that Omicrons symptoms can overlap with that of the common cold and flu. It's also important to remember that COVID-19 affects everyone differently. According to the Zoe health app, COVID diarrhea can last for up to seven days. Loss of appetite. So can other COVID-19 complaints like headache and muscle pain. The Omicron variant has seen a change in symptoms being reported though. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page. . Runny nose. Reuters. All Rights Reserved, These 5 symptoms are the most common in omicron, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. A study by the U.K.'s Health Security Agency comparing symptoms of omicron and delta found the occurrence of nausea and vomiting was about the same with both variants. 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 most reported symptoms of Omicron are really very much like a cold, especially in people who have been vaccinated," says Dr. Claire Steves of King's College London. About 90% of those hospitalized are unvaccinated, he said. It does indeed seem that BA.2.12.1 is more easily transmissible than earlier strains of Omicron SARS-CoV-2, as experts have established it is about 25% more transmissible than "stealth" Omicron, or about 75% more transmissible than original Omicron strains that impacted the 2021 winter holiday season. Flashback: Gastrointestinal symptoms have been mentioned as possible symptoms before. Related articles Omicron variant symptoms: The 'surprise' sign . Only 54% had a fever. New confusion. 8. Sometimes a fever. Omicron BA.5 May Increase the Risk of Outdoor TransmissionHere's How to Stay Safe. diarrhea. "But we are certainly seeing an increase in cases in the community, and that's spilling over to more patients admitted with COVID.". Peter Gulick, DO, an associate professor of medicine at Michigan State University, told Verywell that the symptoms of Omicron mainly remain in the upper respiratory tract and can include a sore throat, congestion, runny nose and headache. The most common Omicron symptoms include cough, fatigue, and a runny nose, according to health officials in the US and Europe. But we do know it to be more transmissible and more immune-evading. 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. Though more people were in the hospital in 2022, the number of deaths nationwide plateaued from April to September 2022, according to the CDC. Salamon also noted it's important for people who are seriously ill withCOVID,or another medical condition,to seek care at the hospital without hesitation. "Preliminary data from studies in Beijing and South Africa have signaled what is expected; new variants and subvariants may be more likely to cause reinfection in an individual who was previously infected with an old variant," Dr. Nagrani explains. Unlike COVID-19, a cold is usually . 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 . Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Patients often get COVID diarrhea after being infected with Delta or Omicron strains, even if they had two or three doses of vaccination. Once a classic sign of COVID-19 infection, loss of sense of smell or taste seems to be less common among patients getting sick with BA.4 and BA.5, Dr. Passaretti noted. Roberts says the solution is to take any symptom seriously, even a mild symptom. And if you start sneezing or feeling feverish, take an at-home test. nausea or vomiting. Coronavirus or Cold Symptoms: How Do They Compare? Diarrhea. "You should get tested for COVID-19 if you develop any of the 11 known COVID symptoms," says Dr . You can still be confident going in, he says just don't be 100% sure what to expect. Stay warm and drink plenty of liquids, says Dr. O'Connor. "In children, Omicron can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses with symptoms including high fever, diarrhea, and vomiting, which may cause dehydration. The bigger picture: These symptoms are a sign that the omicron variant's symptoms are . sore throat. Every new COVID-19 variant raises questions about how the symptoms from a new type might affect our health, and the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants are no different. This is expected. Dr. Oughton says other warning signs include persistent fever that lasts at least two days, if not more, and heart palpitations. Cosmopolitan, Sign up for Yahoo Lifes daily newsletter, how current vaccines stack up in protecting Americans, yet to receive a recommended third booster vaccine, Women who had ovarian cysts share their stories, A sugar replacement may be linked to heart attacks and strokes, but don't throw it out yet. Others say it's trivial.". All Rights Reserved. Laura Hensley is an award-winning lifestyle journalist who has worked in some of the largest newsrooms in Canada. The CDC recommends getting the flu shot before theend of October; adults 65 and older should ask forthe high-dose version. Any combination, and varying levels of severity, of the following symptoms may be triggered by an Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection. Tweet. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea or diarrhea. More true than ever right now because sick, even a little bit sick, until proven otherwise with a test - that's COVID. Gulick says people who are over 65 years old, those who are immunocompromised, and those with comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, can still get seriously ill. "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.". The best masks are N95s or equivalents, such as Canadian-made FN95 masks, as well as KN95s and KF94s. . Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription toAARP The Magazine. We continue to see new variants, and their different lineages and sublineages, emerge & disappear as they compete against each other. Here's what to do if you think you have Omicron and when you might need to go to the hospital. Hundreds of Americans are still dying from COVID-19 each day. That's a familiar list: It's the same group of side effects that came with the original . 2. Anyone exhibiting symptoms should get tested for COVID-19. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. "This has to do with data from the CDC that really showed after seven days there's virtually no risk of transmission at this point," Arwady said. 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. Get a FREE subscription to AARP The Magazine. In the winter, when we experience cold and flu season, it can be hard to differentiate a COVID infection from other viruses. For . Risk for severe illness stemming from this particular subvariant applies to those who have yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19, or those who have had an incomplete vaccination series as well as those who have yet to receive a recommended third booster vaccine. While the research continues to evolve, so far, it shows that vaccinated people are less likely to go on and have long COVID. With previous coronavirus strains like Delta, the . What we are finding with the omicron variant is that people are having symptoms that are similar to a common cold, which is what the vaccination does by changing a severe disease to a milder infection. Those looking to get tested after exposure should do so five days after the exposure or if they begin experiencing, the CDC recommends. An 85-year Harvard study found the No. They also examined clinical trial data on earlier versions of bivalent boosters targeting omicron's BA.1 subvariant. Read on to learn what you need to know about the subvariants and how to stay healthy. We also need to keep in mind the true definition of mild, Hilary Babcock, MD, a professor of medicine who specializes in prevention of infection transmission at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, told Verywell. Written and produced by Andrea BellemareandVik Adhopia with files from Melanie Glanz. Why Are There So Many Omicron SubvariantsAnd What Can They Tell Us About the Future of the Pandemic? Overall, the symptoms for COVID reported by the CDC include: The CDC also has what it calls a "coronavirus self checker" that allows people to answer a series of questions to determine if they should seek medical care. Sign up now:Get smarter about your money and career with our weekly newsletter, Get Make It newsletters delivered to your inbox, Learn more about the world of CNBC Make It, 2023 CNBC LLC. We want them to seek the appropriate medical care," she said. "The symptoms of the Omicron variant, which includes the BA.2 lineage, and the Delta variant, are similar," Erica Johnson, MD, . That's great data because it shows that vaccination is protective, not just against getting infected and ending up in the hospital and dyingall of which are really good benefitsbut also, your risk of getting long COVID is much lower if you are vaccinated, she said. A stuffy nose was reported by 78%. 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 . But if your oxygen levels drop and you start to feel dizzy or short of breath, you may need to get treatment for COVID-19 at a hospital. Loss of smell or taste. This means people are at a higher risk of reinfection. Be sure to check with your pharmacist if you are taking other medications that those painkillers might interfere with. Theirstudy, published inThe Lancet, also suggests that brain fog and dizziness are less prevalent in omicron cases. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. The best way to prevent getting sick is to ensure you're up-to-date on your COVID vaccinations, including any recommended boosters (even if that means seeking out another vaccine brand manufacturer). The COVID-19 Omicron variant and common flu: Symptoms and treatment . COVID-19 might cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhea either alone or with other COVID-19 symptoms. KOCO 5 is keeping you updated on the COVID-19 pandemic in Oklahoma. Flashback: Gastrointestinal symptoms have been mentioned as possible symptoms before. But for the most part, most symptoms Rutherford was aware of were respiratory. Here's what we know about what a BA.4 or BA.5 infection can look like and whether symptoms are any more severe than other COVID-19 strains. More than 1 million prescriptions for these antiviral pills were filled at pharmacies between Dec. 23, 2021, and May 21, 2022,a CDC report shows. "Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you." Comments are welcome while open. And will it take Utah for a wild ride?. ", As of May 9, 2022, national forecasts predict 90010,200 new #COVID19 hospitalizations will likely be reported on June 3. Diarrhea; This list does not include all possible symptoms. People infected with BA.5 may experience these typical COVID-19 symptoms, sore throat, and fatigue, but they are less likely to report fevers or loss of taste and smell, said Andy Pekosz, PhD, a virologist and professor . . Read our. The top symptoms with Omicron infections, according to a ZOE study, are . Opinion: How did COVID-19 start? However, the CDC notes this list is not exhaustive, and people might experience different symptoms or combinations of symptoms . Like the other Omicron strains that have been dominant in the U.S. since December 2021, experts say BA.4 and BA.5 mainly cause cold-like symptoms and respiratory or breathing issues. Although the first cases of Omicron were observed in late 2021, the variant might have been around for several months. Taking those steps will really help. 2021;34(10):666-668. doi:10.1089/vim.2021.0126. Further, 30 percent of patients with the Alpha variant (dominant in late 2020) experienced diarrhea. The Omicron coronavirus variant is very transmissible, making it likely you or someone you know will catch it. "Many patients we're seeing are actually testing positive before they have symptoms, so they're testing positive on a rapid antigen," she said. According to the CDC, symptoms of Covid-19 include fever, shortness of breath, cough, loss of taste or . Unlike previous versions, Omicron symptoms are mild in fully vaccinated people. Dec 10, 2021, 10:02 AM. "If any of these [symptoms] persist . As of September 2022, BA.4 and BA.5 had been infecting large numbers of people for only a few months, making it difficult to confirm these slight differences in symptoms beyond what doctors were seeing. Antibodies From Vaccines vs. Antibodies From Natural Infection, How Vaccine Makers Are Tackling the Omicron Variant. As of Thursday, Ontario's COVID-19 test positivity rate is 29.2 per cent, while Quebec's health minister said the health-care system is missing about 20,000 workers who have been infected with or exposed to the virus. 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 multicenter study in 2022 looked at 1672 hospitalized COVID-19 positive . "Occasionally there can be nausea and diarrhea," Gulick said. "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. Headache. You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. Diarrhea, a common symptom for earlier variants, may turn up. "COVID-19 can be transmitted through poo . If symptoms, like coughing, are bad, seek medical help.. A Division of NBC Universal. Symptoms to watch for and when to seek hospital care. They've often been associated with those who are feeling mild COVID-19 symptoms, including children, according to Insider. Some may also experience changes in taste or smell." Some of the most specific available data on Omicron symptoms comes from the U.K. Zoe COVID Study App . These symptoms, also listed by the CDC, can make the omicron infection look like a common cold. Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone. 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. World health leaders are warning that omicron, the new COVID variant discovered in November, could cause "severe consequences. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Masks are also still an important part of COVID-19 prevention; especially if you or someone you live with is considered high risk for severe complications, or are currently at risk for severe disease. 2022. doi:10.1101/2021.12.31.21268583, Arnold CG, Monte AA, Littlefield K, Vest A, Palmer BE. Are Symptoms of BA.4 and BA.5 More Severe? Oops! These include: A runny nose "They may only feel like they have a cold," she said. Those who are fully up-to-date on their shots are at less risk of mild infection, Dr. Huang stresses; but they are not impervious to getting sick, even if it's a second COVID-19 sickness. She notes they can also be purchased online. An associate practitioner administers a coronavirus vaccine at Elland Road in Leeds . Looks like you have exceeded the limit to bookmark the image. Others include headaches, muscle aches, runny nose, sneezing, nausea and loss of appetite. "COVID tends to present similarly, and [it] may vary from person to person, but the most common stuff we're seeing are fevers, congestion, [and] sore throat," Katie Passaretti, MD, vice president and enterprise chief epidemiologist with Atrium Health, told Health. What kind of symptoms does this highly contagious variant present, you may wonder? While health officials didn't know as of September 2022 how they might affect the population, the good news is that symptoms don't seem to be that much different or worse than with Omicron or other types of COVID-19. "People have to understand, if they feel sick, we don't want them not coming to the emergency department because they're scared. However, many of the more common Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 symptoms are not severe, and you can often treat them at home. AARP Membership - LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Find a COVID-19 vaccine or booster near you: https://t.co/xbvNiaVJKV. But unlike delta, many patients are not losing their taste or smell. These two new subtypes made up the majority of COVID cases in 2022, according to the CDC data tracker page. By the time omicron arrived near the end of 2021, we had a more highly vaccinated population, says Laraine Washer, M.D., an infectious disease physician at University of Michigan. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Dr. Rutherford estimated that the number of cases might be more than twice that reported. According to data corralled by officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the viral subvariant which has yet to earn an informal nickname, but scientists have labeled BA.2.12.1 has been linked to 43% of total COVID-19 cases in the U.S., which is a major jump from the 7% it was accounting for back in early April. If you experience diarrhea with COVID-19, you are not alone. Sore throat. Omicron has become the dominant variant of the coronavirus in the U.S. Our understanding of the variant continues to evolve, but we know more about Omicron now than we did when it first appearedincluding its symptoms. Less severe symptoms may also be causing the new strains to spread faster. Aside from classic Covid-19 symptoms, according to Dr. Singh, some of the distinguishing symptoms of the Omicron variant are: runny nose. Fever. From the symptoms to how it spreads, everything about this variant was different from its predecessors. Previously she was a reporter and editor for WTOP Radio in Washington, D.C. A recipient of a Gracie Award and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, she also participated in a dementia fellowship with the National Press Foundation. Scientists with the COVID Symptom Study have been tracking symptoms associated with newly diagnosed COVID cases since early in the pandemic. For those patients with asthma who are having a wheeze with this, we may prescribe puffers for them to help out," she said. Diarrhea. Vaccination hesitancy and postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2: Is it time to reconsider? Others experience no symptoms at all. Symptoms of loss of taste and smell are related to COVID, so if you develop symptoms and are at high-risk, then definitely get tested since there is now treatment for early disease, Gulick said. iStock. He said that symptoms such as runny nose, cough, headaches, and muscle aches remain the most common across different variants. In both clinical trials, the most commonly reported side effects within seven days of receiving the shot were: That's a familiar list: It's the same group of side effects that came with the original formulations. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Redness and swelling at the injection site. Also known as "stealth" Omicron, BA.2 is the dominant strain in the U.S., sparking new questions. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Seek medical attention right away if the vaccine recipient has any of the following symptoms: difficulty breathing, swelling of the face and throat, a fast heartbeat, a bad rash all over . " Researchers around the world are working tirelessly to learn everything they can about this newest iteration of the virus, which boasts a "Frankenstein mix" of mutations, including more than 30 on the all-important spike protein. Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone. The experience of COVID diarrhea is very similar to how we feel sick from a regular stomach bug.
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