Editor's Note: This story, originally published Jan. 10, 2022, has been updated to reflect new information. Stay warm and drink plenty of liquids, says Dr. O'Connor. He also says that on top of vaccines, its important people wear masks, practice social distancing and avoid indoor crowds whenever possible. Copyright HT Digital Streams Limited All rights reserved. " 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. The Omicron variant is the most transmissible variant to date for all age groups, including both adults and children. Are Symptoms of BA.4 and BA.5 More Severe? Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Another option to consider if you test negative for COVID-19 but feel ill is a flu test, Washer says, since there are also treatments specific to this illness that can help you feel better. Loss of appetite. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription toAARP The Magazine. You are just one step away from creating your watchlist! 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. Arwady said that now, those who are fully vaccinated aren't necessarily getting "seriously ill and having fevers for days and difficult breathing," but are instead experiencing a more mild illness. I have seen some cases of reinfection with people who had a BA.2 variant in the last few months, he added. "It is clear that the disproportionate share of infections are those that are weathered at home," she says. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have been COVID symptoms since the initial COVID struck and may still strike you. New COVID Variants May Fuel a Winter SurgeWhat to Know About BQ.1, XBB, and Others, Omicron Infection Timeline: When Symptoms Start and How Long They Last, BA.2.75 Is the Newest Omicron SubvariantHere's What We Know So Far. Sore throat. 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 . "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. Those who are unvaccinated, however, are experiencing similar symptoms to early on in the pandemic, Arwady said. This is why getting booster shots, as well as flu shots, masking, and getting tested remain important, he says. Some people may never experience symptoms, though they can still spread the virus. The virus can infect some cells in a patient's gastrointestinal tract, which would lead to stomach issues like diarrhea, Dr. Pekosz . "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.". Diarrhea. They also examined clinical trial data on earlier versions of bivalent boosters targeting omicron's BA.1 subvariant. The CDC urges those who have or may have COVID-19 to watch for emergency warning signs and seek medical care immediately if they experience symptoms including: "This list is not all possible symptoms," the CDC states. She noted also that these symptoms may only reflect certain populations. 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. Roughly 26% of participants experienced a mild or moderate headache, while only 0.3% experienced a severe one. Mild or severe fatigue. A variety of newsletters you'll love, delivered straight to you. Fever. They've often been associated with those who are feeling mild COVID-19 symptoms, including children, according to Insider. Chest pain. The best masks are N95s or equivalents, such as Canadian-made FN95 masks, as well as KN95s and KF94s. 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. sore throat. AARP Membership - LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. . Join AARP for just $9 per yearwhen you sign up for a 5-year term. December data from the ZOE COVID Study app, a global initiative to track COVID cases and symptoms, adds fatigue and sneezing to the list of common Omicron symptoms. Those looking to get tested after exposure should do so five days after the exposure or if they begin experiencing, the CDC recommends. So can other COVID-19 complaints like headache and muscle pain. 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 . 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? "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. That said, lots of different factors can affect the severity of symptoms, the CDC says, and vaccination status is one of them. Diarrhea as a symptom of COVID-19 has significant consequences for public health. A person is also considered contagious before symptoms appear. 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. Related articles Omicron variant symptoms: The 'surprise' sign . Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and appetite loss have been reported in a number of patients across age groups. If you're not vaccinated or boosted, I certainly have a much higher concern that you could get infected. But we do know it to be more transmissible and more immune-evading. This is a subscriber only feature Subscribe Now to get daily updates on WhatsApp. However, many of the more common Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 symptoms are not severe, and you can often treat them at home. 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 . Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. 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 . But COVID-19 can cause symptoms you may not expect, including: Digestive symptoms. "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. "We know that vaccine effectiveness against severe disease and death remains high for other Omicron [types] and likely also for BA.4 and 5," Walensky said. 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. Congestion or runny nose. Omicron symptoms overlap with typical cold symptoms, so it's very important to get tested if you have cold-like symptoms. Fatigue or body aches . Can Omicron symptoms be distinguished from Delta symptoms? Although milder symptoms are better in many respects, omicron has made itmore difficult for people to tellwhats COVID-19 and whats just a cold or the flu or a whole host of other respiratory illnesses that circulate this time of year. 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. Other people may have muscle aches, fever and chills. Why are more workers returning to the office in Asia and Europe than the U.S.? If you do have access to a rapid test, test yourself a day or so after a suspected exposure, and don't assume that your negative result means you're in the clear. World health leaders are warning that omicron, the new COVID variant discovered in November, could cause "severe consequences. If you have the symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection, "right now the chances that it's Omicron are very, very high," said Oughton. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately: Trouble breathing Those patients go on to develop symptomstwo or three days later, and then often find their symptoms startimprovingthree or four days after that. Seventy-four percent reported fatigue. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. Diarrhea; What is the COVID omicron variant? The evidence so far, according to Poehling, is anecdotal and not based on scientific research. Sore throat. Still, for those who are vaccinated and boosted but are still looking to be cautious, Arwady said an additional test at seven days could help. The top symptoms with Omicron infections, according to a ZOE study, are . The Omicron coronavirus variant is very transmissible, making it likely you or someone you know will catch it. "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. Shutterstock. Babcock says that new data shows that people who were vaccinated and got infected with a previous variant of the virus had a much lower risk of long COVID than unvaccinated people who got infected. A Division of NBC Universal. Diarrhea, a common symptom for earlier variants, may turn up. A doctor and pharmacist say many treatments for common colds and flu will also be helpful for double-vaccinated adults who are recovering from COVID-19 at home. "I've told my own staff this, it's what I do myself if you are sick, even a little bit sick, stay home. When we let our guards down and skip out on booster appointments or throw away masks, we are giving the virus more opportunities to spread. Muscle pain. The Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent vaccine is currently authorized as the third dose of the three-dose primary series for children in this age group. In the fall of 2022, experts weren't sure how severely the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants would affect the U.S. population. Though more people were in the hospital in 2022, the number of deaths nationwide plateaued from April to September 2022, according to the CDC. Of course, people at higher risk of serious illness can still face more dire health outcomeseven if they are vaccinated. Runny nose. And for the most part, that seems to hold true with omicron and its subvariants, including thenow-dominant BA.5. Predict the closing value of sensex and win free subscription. But for the most part, most symptoms Rutherford was aware of were respiratory. stuffy nose. The latest Omicron SARS-CoV-2 subvariant, which scientists have labeled BA.2.12.1, is on track to become the most virulent strain in the United States currently. Others experience no symptoms at all. 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. What To Know About the First Updated COVID-19 Booster, Omicron vs. Delta: How the 2 COVID-19 Variants Compare. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. He said that symptoms such as runny nose, cough, headaches, and muscle aches remain the most common across different variants. All rights reserved, Judge: Oxford Schools, Staff Immune From Lawsuits Stemming From Michigan School Shooting, CTA Continues Efforts to Adapt Electric Buses to Winter's Challenges, how long should you quarantine with covid, New Ranking Names Most Expensive Cities In Illinois and These Chicago Suburbs Top the List, Chicago Suburb Lands on List of Happiest Places to Live,' Another Midwest City Makes Top 10, Stomach Bug Cases Surging, Sending People to Emergency Rooms in Chicago Area, Inmate Beaten to Death in Maximum Security Wing of Cook County Jail, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone. Here's a full list of known, potential COVID-19 symptoms for any individual, according to the CDC: Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing. "You will still be eligible for the upcoming fall booster that will have modifications to improve its effect against newer variants. Runny or stuffy nose. Lab tests show some falling way short of filtration standards. Diarrhea was slightly more . . 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. For instance, some studies report that loss of taste and smell once a telltale sign of COVID-19 occurs less often in omicron infections. Here are things you can do | CBC Radio Loaded. Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing. 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. Morris said symptoms indicative of pneumonia or respiratory failure, like shortness of breath, chest pain, cough tend to show up later, between day five and 10. Unlike previous versions, Omicron symptoms are mild in fully vaccinated people. Do Bivalent Boosters Protect Against XBB.1.5? If you've been exposed to someone with COVID and are watching for symptoms, how can you tell if you've been infected? Some of the symptoms that one may experience in the stomach are - abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, and diarrhoea, rather than breathing issues, coughing, fever, etc. Hospitalization rates have decreased dramatically since their peak in January, but still, thousands of individuals are still being admitted daily for COVID-19 and the vast majority of them are older Americans. "That's good because they're not getting seriously sick, they're not threatening the healthcare system, but it's certainly of some concern because they do have the potential to transmit to others.". A new subvariant of the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that leads to a COVID-19 diagnosis, has overtaken earlier variations (including "stealth" Omicron) to likely become the most viral variant here in the United States. "We just don't have any data on this [yet], essentially giving two vaccines in one shot but biologically, I just wouldn't expect the side effects, severity or the safety profile of the shots to be different from the current mRNA vaccines and boosters," Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and member of an independent advisory group to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, tells CNBC Make It. . Nasal congestion/stuffy nose. You are now subscribed to our newsletters. 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 . In fact, the most common omicron variant symptoms so far include muscle aches, fatigue, scratchy throat and night sweats, which are not overly severe, as I wrote for the Deseret News. People need to get their booster shots for the most protection. The CDC reports that people's most common complaints when infected with Omicron include cough, runny nose, congestion, and fatigue. "This list is not all . Marketplace also found some N95s held up better than others in testing. Diarrhea. Digestive symptoms sometimes develop before a fever and respiratory symptoms. Fever or chills. Sore throat. The CDC announced the first known case of the omicron variant in the United States on Dec. 1, days after its . Here's what to do if you think you have Omicron and when you might need to go to the hospital. The CDC says to look for emergency warning signs for coronavirus. In a September 2022 news release, the CDC also recommended updated booster shots that contain proteins targeting the variants for people ages 12 and older. Also known as "stealth" Omicron, BA.2 is the dominant strain in the U.S., sparking new questions. Be sure to check with your pharmacist if you are taking other medications that those painkillers might interfere with. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Occasionally there can be nausea and diarrhea, Gulick said. 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. "And then you get other people infected.". Early infection symptoms that are commonly being noted with these particular infections may have something to do with that, explains Dr. Huang. In the winter, when we experience cold and flu season, it can be hard to differentiate a COVID infection from other viruses. It's also important to remember that COVID-19 affects everyone differently. You can still be confident going in, he says just don't be 100% sure what to expect. COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in the U.S., driven by an uptick in infections caused by the BA.2.12.1 subvariant most of which may not be diagnosed as early as possible due to a lack of testing, explains Sachin Nagrani, M.D., medical director at care provider Heal. ", As of May 9, 2022, national forecasts predict 90010,200 new #COVID19 hospitalizations will likely be reported on June 3. Dont have insurance? In the case of gastrointestinal illness, a doctor should be consulted, and a test should be administered immediately. congestion or runny nose. nausea or vomiting. Other symptoms may show up with the newer strains, George Rutherford, MD, a professor of epidemiology at the University of California, San Francisco, told Health. Less severe symptoms may also be causing the new strains to spread faster. The symptoms that arise from a case of COVID-19 caused by the now-dominant omicron strain known as BA.5 dont seem to differ from those caused by its parent variant or any of the other omicron offshoots, experts say. This is expected. Standout omicron symptoms are primarily respiratory. Common upper respiratory symptoms associated with omicron include the following: Cough. As Gulick points out, getting booster shots is crucial. The incubation period for Omicron is shorter compared to previous variants, and is about three days, saysOughton, an infectious diseases specialist at Jewish General Hospital in Montreal. Trends in number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the US reported to the CDC, by state/territory. 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 . . Health officials arenow recommendingthat everyone 12 and older get an updated booster shot thats designed to better target omicron and its subvariants. Think you may have Omicron? "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. "If you had an exposure, you're vaccinated and boosted, I don't think that there is any need to be testing, frankly, past about seven days," she said. Here's a full list of known, potential COVID-19 symptoms for any individual, according to the CDC: Cough. Individuals over the age of 50 or those considered to be clinically immunocompromised are encouraged to seek out a second booster dose of an mRNA vaccine now to keep infection risks low. And will it take Utah for a wild ride?. Is your N95-style mask failing you? Headache. Research also suggests that people who are infected with omicron aresick for shorter periods of timethan those with delta. People with prior infection, even with BA.1 and BA.2, are likely still at risk for BA.4 or BA.5.. We continue to see new variants, and their different lineages and sublineages, emerge & disappear as they compete against each other. 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. The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. If you know or think you've got Omicron, stay home. "The symptoms of the Omicron variant, which includes the BA.2 lineage, and the Delta variant, are similar," Erica Johnson, MD, . 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. 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. The updated booster shots contain the same number of micrograms, with 15 targeting the original strain and the other 15 targeting BA.4 and BA.5. ", "Even if it's a sore throat, no matter what it is," she said. 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. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people who test positive for COVID-19 need . Symptoms of Omicron infection may be different, too. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. "Masking is also important if you have something crucial on your schedule; a vacation, a graduation, or even a medical procedure where you need to be healthy for that important activity," Dr. Huang adds. 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. Together, the evidence shows a potential roadmap for the side effects you can expect after getting one of the new boosters, and how severe those side effects might be. . Joint pain. Children tend to have more gastrointestinal symptoms, such as . 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. For healthy people with two or three doses of vaccine the symptoms are fairly mild and tend to be over within a few days from when people tested positive, says Dr. Erin O'Connor. Sore throat. 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. Fact-checked on July 14, 2022, by Marley Hall, a writer and fact checker specializing in medical and health information. The experience of COVID diarrhea is very similar to how we feel sick from a regular stomach bug. "If you're taking multiple at home tests, you know, the recommendation is five days later take a test. "Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you." ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Any combination, and varying levels of severity, of the following symptoms may be triggered by an Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection. In a White House press briefing, Dr. Walensky noted that people still need to be vigilant in staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. AARP Members Only Access to Special Health Content, Access AARP health Smart Guides, articles and special content. 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 Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 strains of COVID-19 became the most common forms of the COVID-19 virus in the U.S. in 2022. diarrhea. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea or diarrhea. New . sore throat. Even if Omicron can feel like "just a cold to those fully vaccinated, it is much more transmissible. 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. Text Size. Definitely, ideally, you'd be seeking out that test at five and I would do it again, you know, at the seven, potentially at that 10. And like COVID-19, the influenza vaccine can help prevent serious flu complications from ever occurring. The COVID-19 Omicron variant and common flu: Symptoms and treatment . If symptoms, like coughing, are bad, seek medical help.. Coronavirus or Cold Symptoms: How Do They Compare? "[It's] harder to detect because people are like, 'I just have allergies. "Sometimes they don't realize how short of breath they are until it's too late, particularly in younger patients," she said. 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. Chills. It found five symptoms were the most common: Over 80% commonly reported a cough, while 72% experienced a sore throat. Runny nose. CDC recommends the first COVID-19 booster. The device monitors blood oxygen levels. A simple swab of the nose can tell you whether you have COVID-19 in about 15 minutes. 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. "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. Hundreds of Americans are still dying from COVID-19 each day. THE Omicron variant is bringing up a number of unusual symptoms as it spreads across the UK - one of those could be a nasty case of diarrhoea. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. She's the deputy medical director of the emergency departments at the University Health Network in Toronto. "Occasionally there can be nausea and diarrhea," Gulick said. "But we are certainly seeing an increase in cases in the community, and that's spilling over to more patients admitted with COVID.". Nearly 70% experienced a headache. Many of the common omicron variant symptoms resemble other COVID-19 symptoms. Listen. The new shots have the same dosage amounts as the original vaccines, which further suggests that their safety profiles could be similar, Offit says. 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. Headache. Persistent pain or pressure in the chest. But if you have taken one at five and it's negative and you're feeling good, chances are very good that you're not going to have any more issues there," she said. And if you are sick, or suspect you could be sick, stay home. 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. 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. Learn how vehicle tech like blind spot warnings and drowsy driving alerts can help make driving safer. How to prevent infection by the BA.2.12.1 subvariant: "I think if you're being extra careful there, if you wanted to test again, you know, at seven even, sometimes people look at three to get an earlier sense of things. Others include headaches, muscle aches, runny nose, sneezing, nausea and loss of appetite. Since it emerged in November 2021, the Omicron COVID variant has completely changed the course of the pandemic. "If you are eligible for the additional booster this spring, please get it to receive additional protection against both mild and severe disease," Dr. Huang advises. All Rights Reserved. Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. If someone else in your household has tested positive or has symptoms, it's probably safe to assume you do, too. Nausea. The omicron variant has now been identified in at least 32 states, and experts believe it will become the dominant strain in the U.S. . A resident receives a Covid-19 booster shot at a vaccine clinic inside Trinity Evangelic Lutheran Church in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, U.S, on Tuesday, Apr. CDC will continue to update this list as they learn more about the virus.
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