Omicron symptoms: ‘Recent rise’ in five lesser-known signs of the contagious disease

Omicron sub-variant discussed by infectious disease expert

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Omicron was marked as the most transmissible strain compared to its predecessors. Rampaging through the country, the UK saw record peaks in cases since the variant appeared. Fortunately, being able to spot the warning signs and isolating can help to stop the spread. Here are the warning signs which could be signalling the infection.

The Omicron variant is characterised by causing symptoms different from the traditional three.

People who tested positive for the variant that originated in southern Africa have been self-reporting symptoms on the ZOE COVID Study app.

Based on these reports, only half of the patients experienced fever, cough or loss or change to taste and smell.

Other symptoms, including ones targeting the stomach, seem to be just as prevalent.

The app is used to observe symptoms of coronavirus to help track the spread.

Now, it has seen a “recent rise” in patients who struggle from gastrointestinal issues.

Based on millions of reports, the ZOE COVID Study app has established stomach signs as symptoms of COVID-19.

These signs can include:

• Diarrhoea
• Stomach pains
• Feeling sick (nausea)
• Loss of appetite
• Skipping meals.

The research added: “We’ve recently spotted a sharp increase in the number of people reporting gastrointestinal symptoms in the app from mid-December 2021 through January 2022.

“This follows roughly the same pattern that we saw during the winter wave a year ago.”

Stomach symptoms were common for the earlier strains of the virus, including Alpha and Delta.

Although Omicron is linked to symptoms like these as well, the rates don’t seem more significant compared to other strains, the research reports.

The ZOE COVID Study App explains the reason for the recent spike could also be due to a tummy bug going around.

When it comes to Covid, the research suggests that these symptoms tend to cluster together, characterising a distinct type of the virus.

The type marked by stomach issues is called gastrointestinal and can include: headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, sore throat and chest pain.

The symptoms study was created by experts from various universities, including the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and King’s College London, in a collaboration with a health science company called ZOE.

Although stomach issues could be pointing to the viral infection, these are not the only Omicron symptoms.

Based on reports from South Africa and patients who battled the strain, symptoms can also include:

• Runny nose
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Sneezing
• Scratchy throat
• Muscle ache
• Night sweats.

If you have any Covid symptoms, you need to self-isolate and take a test, the NHS advises.

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