Can COVID-19 symptoms differ according to their variants?
With the emergence of every new variant, the rate of transmissibility and the level of severity is what concerns us the most.
Also See: Coronavirus symptoms: Signs you most likely have Omicron and not regular cold
Currently, COVID's Omicron variant is said to be highly transmissible and has become the top concern of health officials around the world. As of now, the new variant has been found in 63 countries and according to the World Health Organization, is all set to surpass the Delta variant in the race of transmission. But when it comes to severity and associated symptoms, it seems like experts are less concerned. Let us find out why.
Read also: Coronavirus: 5 symptoms of COVID's Omicron variant you must NOT MISS
Omicron symptoms 'mild' so far
WHO suggests that the most recent variant of SARS-CoV-2 may easily spread from one person to another. Those who have either caught the virus earlier or have been fully vaccinated remain to be at risk of contraction. However, the global health agency has said that the disease will be milder as compared to the Delta variant.
“There are still limited data on the clinical severity of Omicron. While preliminary findings from South Africa suggest it may be less severe than Delta, and all cases reported in the EU/EEA to date have been mild or asymptomatic, it remains unclear to what extent Omicron may be inherently less virulent. More data is needed to understand the severity profile,” it said.
Since the onset of Omicron up until now, no reports of severe illness have come to surface. Rather, Dr Angelique Coetzee, Chairperson of the South African Medical Association, who also happens to be the first person to have discovered the Omicron variant, had initially said that the disease was 'mild' and those infected did not show any signs of severity.
'A lot of body pain' may be a sign of Omicron
The heavily mutated variant may be infectious, but the symptoms remain mild.
One of the tell-tale signs of COVID's Omicron variant is body ache. According to general practitioner Dr Unben Pillay, South Africa’s Department of Health, night sweats could be telling symptoms of the new Omicron variant that may arise at night. However, the doctor highlighted that it could come with "a lot of body pain".
Pain in the body is a sign of infection. It is a sign of inflammation triggered by your immune system, while it's fighting off the foreign pathogen. Although infection from previous strains could cause body pain, it was not as common as a fever or a persistent cough.
Sure-shot sign of COVID-19 uncommon in people infected with the Omicron
The most telling sign of COVID-19 so far is loss or change in smell or taste. These two sensory changes confirmed a coronavirus infection.
However, as per Dr Coetzee, this particular symptom has been less common in people infected with the Omicron. Apart from that, those who develop high body temperature, get treated on their own over time. Also, there have been no cases of a stuffy, clogged nose, and those affected by the new strain.
Other symptoms to watch out for
Mild fever, 'lots of body pain', fatigue, 'scratchy' rather than sore throat and night sweats are some of the common symptoms of the Omicron variant.
Apart from that, COVID-19 in general attacks the respiratory system, both upper and lower and severe infection may cause persistent dry cough, shortness of breath, chest pain and low blood oxygen levels, which may need immediate attention.
How to stay safe
When it comes to the Omicron variant, much remains under speculation. While experts have said that the new variant causes mild infections, new reports suggest otherwise.
Having said that and keeping in view the unpredictability of the virus, one must take all the measures. Wearing your mask, maintaining social distance and following proper hand hygiene is key during such stressful times.
Most of all, getting your vaccine shot is the most important right now. Those who have got their two doses, must keep an eye out for vaccine boosters.