As infections of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19 — keep to spread around the world, there have been reports that symptoms, in some respects, are different from those of Delta variant infections. Do symptoms really differ? What should you look out for?

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What exercise we know virtually the symptoms of an infection with the Omicron variant? Image credit: Pierre Crom/Getty Images.

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On Nov 26, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated a new SARS-CoV-ii variant of concern, which became known as Omicron.

The variant has caused business among health regime because it appears to be highly transmissible and likelier to reinfect.

There accept also been some worries that Omicron can bypass the protection conferred by COVID-19 vaccines. Pfizer maintains that three doses of its mRNA vaccine are able to neutralize Omicron in laboratory experiments and that two doses may notwithstanding prevent serious disease following infection with this variant.

For these reasons, countries worldwide take been taking various measures and precautions to reduce the spread of Omicron among their populations.

Nevertheless, inside a world in constant motion, it may exist incommunicable to stop it from spreading altogether. Some cause for optimism may be that various reports suggest that infections with this variant tend to crusade milder symptoms than those with previous SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as Delta.

But how can someone tell if they accept the Omicron infection? Are the symptoms the same every bit those of infections with previous variants?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists the possible symptoms of a SARS-CoV-2 infection without specifying a variant. These are:

  • fever or chills
  • cough
  • shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • fatigue
  • muscle or body aches
  • headache
  • new loss of taste or smell
  • sore throat
  • congestion or runny olfactory organ
  • nausea or airsickness
  • diarrhea

All the same, the CDC notes this list is not exhaustive, and people might experience different symptoms or combinations of symptoms. Furthermore, anecdotal reports on social media and other platforms claim that more specific combinations of symptoms characterize Omicron infections.

The Zoe COVID Study — conducted by researchers from wellness science company ZOE and King'southward Higher London in the Great britain — uses data from over iv,000,000 participants.

The study'southward recent analysis aimed to determine whether in that location were any differences between the most common symptoms of infection with the Delta variant and the most common symptoms of infection with Omicron.

They compared symptoms reported via the Zoe COVID Report app by U.K. participants who tested positive for COVID-19 in Oct 2021, when Delta was dominant in the U.K., with those who tested positive in December 2021 when Omicron had become the dominant variant.

Preliminary analysis indicated that the most commonly reported symptoms reported in both months were largely the same: a runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, and a sore throat.

The findings propose no strong differences in the most commonly experienced symptoms likely acquired past the two SARS-CoV-2 variants.

However, according to this self-reported data, the ZOE scientists also annotation that loss of odour and taste appear to exist less common among people recently testing positive for COVID-19.

Medical News Today spoke to Dr. David Thou. Cutler, family physician at Saint John's Medico Partners in Santa Monica, CA, to find out more virtually doctors' advice regarding symptoms of an Omicron infection.

Dr. Cutler reiterated that symptoms vary and may non stand up out in whatever particular style, compared to signs of infection with previous variants.

"The variety of symptoms seen with Omicron is the same as with other SARS-CoV-2 variants," he said. "It seems quite notable that people affected by the same variant may feel quite dissimilar symptoms. Some get nasal stuffiness, others headache, sometimes trunk aches, and others get a sore pharynx."

However, he noted, "[s]erious lung infections appear to exist less likely with Omicron than [with] prior variants."

That may be because, unlike other variants, Omicron preferentially infects the upper respiratory tract. This may also be why it seems to cause milder symptoms, co-ordinate to WHO Incident Manager Abdi Mahamud.

"We are seeing more and more than studies pointing out that Omicron is infecting the upper function of the torso. Unlike the other ones, that could crusade severe pneumonia," he says, though cautions that more studies are necessary to confirm this.

There have as well been some anecdotal reports that lateral flow tests — also known as LFTs — may be less constructive at detecting the presence of an Omicron infection.

Such tests, which people can do at home, are based on samples taken from a person's nose, throat, or both and are meant to detect sure viral antigens, which indicate the presence of a viral infection.

According to Dr. Cutler, "[l]ateral menstruation tests are inherently inaccurate [because] [t]hey do not detect low levels of virus as well every bit PCR tests."

RT-PCR tests, or PCR for short, are based on samples taken from both a person's nose and throat. These samples, still, undergo laboratory testing, which tin can reveal whether SARS-CoV-ii specific genes are present. PCR tests are more sensitive and generally held equally being more accurate.

Testing for genetic markers can also reveal, more specifically, the SARS-CoV-2 variant.

Some health agencies, such as the U.K. Wellness Security Agency (UKHSA), have nevertheless declared that, when used correctly, LFTs should detect infections with any SARS-CoV-ii variant in almost cases.

A laboratory evaluation of lateral flow devices currently in employ in the U.K by the UKHSA as well suggests that LFTs detect Omicron every bit effectively equally previous variants.

What happens if yous become infected with the Omicron variant, and symptoms are mild enough not to require hospitalized intendance? How tin y'all treat a mild infection at home?

"There are no specific habitation not-prescription drug remedies for preventing or treating [COVID-19]," Dr. Cutler noted.

The best remedies are similar to those you might utilize to treat mild flu symptoms or a cold:

"Recommended treatment is directed at the symptoms: stay hydrated, rested, and well-nourished. Have acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve headache, body aches, or fever. Avoid unproven remedies similar hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, zinc, and vitamin D, which accept no known value and can cause adverse effects."

– Dr. David M. Cutler

Equally they say, though, prevention is amend than cure, and then taking measures to protect ourselves and our loved ones from becoming infected with Omicron or any other SARS-CoV-two variant is the best approach.

"The best method to forestall infection with whatsoever SARS-CoV-2 variant is a multiple technique arroyo," explained Dr. Cutler. "I like to telephone call this a 'Swiss cheese' approach."

"[J]ust like y'all need multiple layers of Swiss cheese so that y'all can't come across any ham through the cheese holes in a sandwich, you need multiple types of protection to preclude [COVID-19]. No i protective technique is 100% effective. Vaccines, masks, distancing, ventilation, and avoiding ill or unvaccinated people are all important and constructive to forestall you lot from getting [an] infection. And isolating when you are infected is critical in preventing you from spreading [the virus] to others."

– David K. Cutler

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