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People need to get their booster shots for the most protection. People should also be aware that diarrhoea is not just a possible symptom of Covid but also features in numerous medical conditions. More than 101.3 million people have received a COVID-19 booster dose. Find a COVID-19 vaccine or booster near you: https://t.co/xbvNiaVJKV. 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. He said that symptoms such as runny nose, cough, headaches, and muscle aches remain the most common across different variants. Free online workshop! 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. Cough. 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. Some people may experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It found five symptoms were the most common: These symptoms, also listed by the CDC, can make the omicron infection look like a common cold. Both subvariants spread more quickly, maybe because people don't realize they are sick with the virus. These were: a persistent cough, runny nose, fatigue, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, fever and sneezing. Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing. It found five symptoms were the most common: Over 80% commonly reported a cough, while 72% experienced a sore throat. If symptoms, like coughing, are bad, seek medical help.. The body's milder response to a BA.4 or BA.5 infection means people may not realize they have it and can spread it. 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). It is one of the most common symptoms of the disease. "Rapid diagnosis, early diagnosis, and treatment is the way to go," Dr. Rutherford said. "There's been an increase in the rate of COVID cases in the U.S. recently, currently above 80,000 [new] cases per day," he says, adding that it's dramatically less than the 800,000+ cases per day noted at the start of 2022. The newer subvariants have the ability to evade immunity from vaccines or prior infections, or both, perthe Deseret News. Fact-checked on July 14, 2022, by Marley Hall, a writer and fact checker specializing in medical and health information. "If you have the luxury of a living arrangement where you can have your own sleeping quarters and bathroom and ideally, sort of a sectioned off area of the house, I guess that's ideal," saidOughton. Predict the closing value of sensex and win free subscription. But Passaretti has heard that people with BA.5 or Omicron may experience worse fevers and sore throats. 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. While vaccines reduced the impact of Omicron, they themselves were impacted: studies have shown that vaccine effectiveness against infection, disease, hospitalization and death waned (though at different rates) over time. Read our, Experts Explain How COVID-19 May Be Causing New Cases of Diabetes, Too Soon to Tell If Omicron Will Create More Long COVID, What You Need to Know About the XBB.1.5 'Kraken' Variant. 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. 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 . By Laura Hensley Less severe symptoms may also be causing the new strains to spread faster. But at 92 per cent, we'd be wanting you to come in for further examination," she said. So can other COVID-19 complaints like headache and muscle pain. 8. And theyre hiding a horrifying secret. With some omicron cases, particularly breakthrough infections in those who are boosted and vaccinated, remaining mild, many are wondering how to tell if it's a cold, the flu or COVID-19. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. 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. You can treat the milder symptomscough, sore throat, runny noseat home. A person is also considered contagious before symptoms appear. 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? 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. 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. AARP Members Only Access to Special Health Content, Access AARP health Smart Guides, articles and special content. You are now subscribed to our newsletters. 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. Any of these symptoms in any order may appear within two to 14 days after being exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Those patients go on to develop symptomstwo or three days later, and then often find their symptoms startimprovingthree or four days after that. Banerjee A. Omicron estimated to be 95.4% of coronavirus variants in U.S. - CDC. COVID symptoms range from pain felt within the body such as muscle pain, sore throat or a loss of smell and taste. "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. 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. muscle aches, lethargy, and even on some occasions diarrhea and nausea, he said. Still, symptoms don't seem to be much different than for Omicron or other types of COVID-19 infection. Do Bivalent Boosters Protect Against XBB.1.5? Dec 10, 2021, 10:02 AM. Research also suggests that people who are infected with omicron aresick for shorter periods of timethan those with delta. The CDC reports that people's most common complaints when infected with Omicron include cough, runny nose, congestion, and fatigue. Sneezing. The experience of COVID diarrhea is very similar to how we feel sick from a regular stomach bug. Flashback: Gastrointestinal symptoms have been mentioned as possible symptoms before. In the world of infectious disease and epidemiology, mild doesnt always mean sniffles; the marker of a mild disease is whether or not people end up in the hospital. These include: A runny nose If you've been exposed to someone with the virus or have COVID-19 symptoms and are waiting for a . The most commonly-reported symptoms with the original Omicron variant were cough, fatigue, headache, congestion, and runny nose. Omicron estimated to be 95.4% of coronavirus variants in U.S. - CDC, From Delta to Omicron: Analysing the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in France using variant-specific screening tests (September 1 to December 18, 2021). Copyright HT Digital Streams Limited All rights reserved. The virus can infect some cells in a patient's gastrointestinal tract, which would lead to stomach issues like diarrhea, Dr. Pekosz . Omicron Variants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 Are Now Dominant in U.S. How Long Does Immunity From Omicron Last? 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. The Omicron variant has seen a change in symptoms being reported though. 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. Diarrhea. If someone else in your household has tested positive or has symptoms, it's probably safe to assume you do, too. Again, everyone is different and will experience their own early symptoms, but these seem to be among the group reported be most patients. Fever. At the same time, even with over 500 subvariants circulating, Omicron cousins have few things in common, they are all highly transmissible, replicate in the upper respiratory tract and they all have mutations that make them escape built-up immunity more easily. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Patients often get COVID diarrhea after being infected with Delta or Omicron strains, even if they had two or three doses of vaccination. "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. 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. The evidence so far, according to Poehling, is anecdotal and not based on scientific research. "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. Leading experts say you should take 3 upper respiratory symptoms seriously and test for COVID-19 sooner rather than later. With previous coronavirus strains like Delta, the . Of those, 220.2 million are fully vaccinated. AARP Membership LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. congestion or runny nose. Your session has expired, please login again. New Covid Boosters Were Released Before Human TestingBut Experts Say They're Still Safe, What to Know About COVID Reinfections as BA.5 Cases Continue to Rise, What You Should Know About BA.2, a SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant. Individuals with Medicare can get up to eight free tests a month, and many private insurance plans also cover them. "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. This is a subscriber only feature Subscribe Now to get daily updates on WhatsApp. WATCH | Tips for treatingyour Omicron symptoms: If you can, it's important to get vaccinated or boosted. Diarrhea as a symptom of COVID-19 has significant consequences for public health. Omicron symptoms can look like flu and cold symptoms and cause headache, sore throat and runny nose. Others experience no symptoms at all. So far, research shows that its more transmissible and causes less severe disease than earlier variants, like Delta. Not only are the symptoms from a BA.4 and BA.5 infection similar to other Omicron variants, but they also seem to have a similar severity, Dr. Passaretti and Dr. Rutherford said. 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. 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. When Can More People Get a Second COVID Booster? Ask an Expert: Do I Really Need the Bivalent Booster? An associate practitioner administers a coronavirus vaccine at Elland Road in Leeds . Even those who have suffered from Delta and Alpha variants had also complained of this symptom. Laura Hensley is an award-winning lifestyle journalist who has worked in some of the largest newsrooms in Canada. As Gulick points out, getting booster shots is crucial. In the winter, when we experience cold and flu season, it can be hard to differentiate a COVID infection from other viruses. Diarrhea. 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. pic.twitter.com/PcgVBYojKi. The potential for the virus to be transmitted via the fecal-oral route presents additional challenges for areas . Cough. For those without symptoms, CDC guidance states they are considered contagious at least two days before their positive test. For some, symptoms last as much as 10 to 14 days. Be sure to check with your pharmacist if you are taking other medications that those painkillers might interfere with. 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. Published Jan 4, 2022. Those who are unvaccinated, however, are experiencing similar symptoms to early on in the pandemic, Arwady said. Rest assured: They're not expected to be much different from what you may have experienced with previous vaccine and booster doses. AARP Membership $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. These symptoms are a sign that the omicron variant's symptoms are unpredictable. Some of the main symptoms of COVID are fever or chills, a cough, and new loss of taste or smell, but there are also other indicators. "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. The top symptoms with Omicron infections, according to a ZOE study, are . 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. 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 . Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. The CDC announced the first known case of the omicron variant in the United States on Dec. 1, days after its . Loss of smell or taste. Its also important to get your booster shot, wear a mask, and avoid large crowds whenever possible. A variety of newsletters you'll love, delivered straight to you. "This list is not all possible symptoms," the CDC states. Previously common symptoms such as shortness of breath, fever and loss of smell fell down the rankings. 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. ", As of May 9, 258.2 million people have received at least one dose of a #COVID19 vaccine. 2. If you experience diarrhea with COVID-19, you are not alone. 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. Remove some to bookmark this image. How to Protect Against the Omicron Variant, Expect new treatments, more testing and additional variants, Using letters of the alphabet simplifies tracking, Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term -43% off the standard annual rate, Access exclusive discounts, programs, & services, Double down with a FREE second membership. Arwady said testing is likely not necessary after seven days following exposure for those who are vaccinated and boosted. Testing, if you suspect you have COVID, can help curb spread and protect others. "It can drop a little bit lower than that and still be safe. "It is highly anticipated that a more targeted vaccine to current variants will be needed for the fall.". If your test comes back positive, ask your doctor if youre eligible for a COVID-19 treatment, such as one of the new antivirals even if your symptoms are mild. Nearly 70% experienced a headache. All Rights Reserved, These 5 symptoms are the most common in omicron, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Although the first cases of Omicron were observed in late 2021, the variant might have been around for several months. 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. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription toAARP The Magazine. Only 54% had a fever. "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.". 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.