As with the symptoms themselves, it was too early as of September 2022 to tell just how severely the variants might affect patients. So, an increase in the number of children affected is expected. Written and produced by Andrea BellemareandVik Adhopia with files from Melanie Glanz. 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. If You've Never Had COVID Are You More Susceptible to Variants? Will a U.S. COVID-19 vaccine maker be able to stay in business? Editor's Note: This story, originally published Jan. 10, 2022, has been updated to reflect new information. The same concept held true during the last round of booster shots. Taking those steps will really help. 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. Again, everyone is different and will experience their own early symptoms, but these seem to be among the group reported be most patients. Monitoring variant proportions. (Shilpa Thakur) Patients often get COVID diarrhea after being infected with Delta or Omicron . 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. "Sometimes they don't realize how short of breath they are until it's too late, particularly in younger patients," she said. A PCR test (short for polymerase chain reaction), administered at doctors offices or testing sites, can also confirm your suspicions. Wearing a mask is not really that hard; getting a vaccine and getting a booster is, for most people now, fairly accessible, she said. 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. sore throat. 2022. doi:10.1101/2021.12.31.21268583, Arnold CG, Monte AA, Littlefield K, Vest A, Palmer BE. For some, symptoms last as much as 10 to 14 days. More than 101.3 million people have received a COVID-19 booster dose. The Omicron variant has seen a change in symptoms being reported though. It is one of the most common symptoms of the disease. People who are mixing socially and those who are unvaccinated are more susceptible to contracting COVID-19. "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. The quick spread of BA.4 and BA.5 sets them apart from other Omicron strains. These were: a persistent cough, runny nose, fatigue, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, fever and sneezing. Diarrhea. . Marketplace also found some N95s held up better than others in testing. Its also important to get your booster shot, wear a mask, and avoid large crowds whenever possible. 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. Most people will have a saturation of between 97 and 100 per cent, she says. Diarrhea; What is the COVID omicron variant? "Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you." Check with your local health center or testing site (find one oncovid.gov/tests) many are offering them for free. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have been COVID symptoms since the initial COVID struck and may still strike you. Diarrhea. 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. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people who test positive for COVID-19 need . 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. We want them to seek the appropriate medical care," she said. @CDCgov is prepared to quickly identify any new variant & evaluate the public health impact.Updated variant proportions. Sneezing. "If you're taking multiple at home tests, you know, the recommendation is five days later take a test. And what are some of the first signs of an infection? 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. CDC recommends the first COVID-19 booster. Occasionally there can be nausea and diarrhea, Gulick said. Sometimes a fever. Here's what to do if you think you have Omicron and when you might need to go to the hospital. A Division of NBC Universal. If you're not vaccinated or boosted, I certainly have a much higher concern that you could get infected. "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. The CDC . Those who are unvaccinated, however, are experiencing similar symptoms to early on in the pandemic, Arwady said. 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. 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. AARP Members Only Access to Special Health Content, Access AARP health Smart Guides, articles and special content. " 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 CDC reports that people's most common complaints when infected with Omicron include cough, runny nose, congestion, and fatigue. People should also be aware that diarrhoea is not just a possible symptom of Covid but also features in numerous medical conditions. Though more people were in the hospital in 2022, the number of deaths nationwide plateaued from April to September 2022, according to the CDC. The top symptoms with Omicron infections, according to a ZOE study, are . 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. We continue to see new variants, and their different lineages and sublineages, emerge & disappear as they compete against each other. Here's a full list of known, potential COVID-19 symptoms for any individual, according to the CDC: Cough. 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? O'Connor says that some people with greater medical riskare being sent home from UHN hospitals with home oxygen monitors, also known as pulse oximeters. Opinion: How did COVID-19 start? Chills. 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. Fever. 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. Joint pain. Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone. Both subvariants spread more quickly, maybe because people don't realize they are sick with the virus. "What we're seeing with pretty early data is household attack rates are very, very high with Omicron, even compared to other variants of SARS-CoV-2, and that was already fairly high," said Oughton. Sore throat. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In earlier variants, infection caused more harm to the lungs. 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. Many people are reporting cold-like symptoms come with Omicron, particularly among the vaccinated or boosted. Omicron-positive patients suffer from gut-related problems like Nausea, Diarrhoea, Vomiting, Abdominal pain, Heartburn and Bloating "Often the sore throat is the kind of [first] symptom, and then the rest kind of come on.". Free online workshop! ; And how to prevent infection by the BA.2.12.1 strain. These two new subtypes made up the majority of COVID cases in 2022, according to the CDC data tracker page. 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. And if you are sick, or suspect you could be sick, stay home. Arwady's comments echo those of other medical experts who are watching omicron cases. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page. pic.twitter.com/VDB1VghCFn, Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH (@CDCDirector) April 27, 2022, Dr. Huang adds that hospitalizations have remained low and it may be because Americans simply aren't aware they're dealing with a bonafide SARS-CoV-2 infection. 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. From the symptoms to how it spreads, everything about this variant was different from its predecessors. 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. 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. Severe chest pains and worsening or severe shortness of breath are signs you should head to the hospital. Theirstudy, published inThe Lancet, also suggests that brain fog and dizziness are less prevalent in omicron cases. Muscle or body aches. AARP Membership $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. But it's also crucial to remember that no two COVID-19 illnesses are the same; it's entirely possible that an infection triggered by BA.2.12.1 may lead to early upper respiratory symptoms that resemble a cold or reaction to allergies, or it may simply present any of the other known COVID-19 symptoms entirely (including fatigue alone!). More: https://t.co/Xys80ZGlxV. 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. 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. 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. If you've been exposed to someone with the virus or have COVID-19 symptoms and are waiting for a . Join AARP for just $9 per yearwhen you sign up for a 5-year term. 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 . again. Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone. Oops! Any combination, and varying levels of severity, of the following symptoms may be triggered by an Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These symptoms, also listed by the CDC, can make the omicron infection look like a common cold. Javascript must be enabled to use this site. "If you use the cloth mask as an overlay over top of a surgical mask or a medical mask that sort of improves the quality of the fit on your face,"saidOughton. 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.