Why Are There So Many Omicron SubvariantsAnd What Can They Tell Us About the Future of the Pandemic? Oops! Seventy-four percent reported fatigue. Omicron-positive patients suffer from gut-related problems like Nausea, Diarrhoea, Vomiting, Abdominal pain, Heartburn and Bloating 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. It found five symptoms were the most common: Over 80% commonly reported a cough, while 72% experienced a sore throat. Clinicians said many BA.5 symptoms are similar to those seen in previous variants, including congestion, headaches, cough and fever. 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. Individuals with Medicare can get up to eight free tests a month, and many private insurance plans also cover them. The CDC announced the first known case of the omicron variant in the United States on Dec. 1, days after its . 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. . 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. Diarrhea. Opinion: How did COVID-19 start? More infections were driving a higher number of COVID-19 hospitalizations rather than more severe symptoms. 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. The newer subvariants have the ability to evade immunity from vaccines or prior infections, or both, perthe Deseret News. World health leaders are warning that omicron, the new COVID variant discovered in November, could cause "severe consequences. Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. The evidence so far, according to Poehling, is anecdotal and not based on scientific research. 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? The CDC reports that people's most common complaints when infected with Omicron include cough, runny nose, congestion, and fatigue. A U.K. study of around 750,000 people found recently that the top five symptoms for both the Delta and Omicron variants are currently a runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, and a sore throat . Remove some to bookmark this image. The experience of COVID diarrhea is very similar to how we feel sick from a regular stomach bug. "Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.". "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. Omicron appears to be continuing the trend set by Delta. "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. These two new subtypes made up the majority of COVID cases in 2022, according to the CDC data tracker page. Many of the common omicron variant symptoms resemble other COVID-19 symptoms. New confusion. But unlike delta, many patients are not losing their taste or smell. Comments are welcome while open. Dr. Katherine Poehling, an infectious disease specialist and member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices,told NBC Newsthat a cough, congestion, runny nose and fatigue appear to be prominent symptoms with the omicron variant. What kind of symptoms does this highly contagious variant present, you may wonder? 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. Runny nose. Fatigue or body aches . The omicron subvariant of COVID-19, BA.5, became one of the dominant strains of the virus in the fall of 2022 in the U.S. At that time, it was the most easily spread strain to date and is able to evade immunity from COVID infection and vaccination. 2. "The vaccines will most likely remain effective with BA.2.12.1, as they were intended to prevent severe COVID and hospitalization but not for preventing infection [outright].". Roughly 26% of participants experienced a mild or moderate headache, while only 0.3% experienced a severe one. "In children, Omicron can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses with symptoms including high fever, diarrhea, and vomiting, which may cause dehydration. A simple swab of the nose can tell you whether you have COVID-19 in about 15 minutes. How Many Times Can You Get Reinfected With the Same COVID Variant? AARP Membership - LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. Moderna's trial found that nearly 59% of participants experienced fatigue, but only about 4% experienced that at a Grade 3 level, which is defined as significant fatigue that prevents daily activity. These were: a persistent cough, runny nose, fatigue, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, fever and sneezing. "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. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Stage three is when early symptoms start to pop up, like lower back ache, night sweats and a scratchy throat. Nasal congestion/stuffy nose. 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. 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. Banerjee A. Omicron estimated to be 95.4% of coronavirus variants in U.S. - CDC. Although the first cases of Omicron were observed in late 2021, the variant might have been around for several months. Rest assured: They're not expected to be much different from what you may have experienced with previous vaccine and booster doses. " 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. Infected people may then go to work or other gatherings and spread the virus. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page. Half of them didnt offer the level of protection theyre supposed to. 5, 2022. "Many patients we're seeing are actually testing positive before they have symptoms, so they're testing positive on a rapid antigen," she said. Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing. That would still be considered a mild infection it could be a more significant illness, but just not severe enough to end up in the hospital.. "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. But for the most part, most symptoms Rutherford was aware of were respiratory. COVID-19 Boosters Are Being Updated To Target Omicron SubvariantsHere's Why. 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 . Most people will have a saturation of between 97 and 100 per cent, she says. congestion or runny nose. 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. Those who are boosted and vaccinated, or those who are fully vaccinated and not yet eligible for a booster shot, do not need to quarantine, but should wear masks for 10 days and also get tested five days after the exposure, unless they are experiencing symptoms. What should you do if you think you have Omicron? To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Runny nose. Because omicron symptoms can be mistaken for the common cold or flu, doctors urge anyone experiencing them to isolate until symptoms subside. Sore throat continues to be a symptom reported, particularly in mild breakthrough infections, Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady previously stated. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. That said, lots of different factors can affect the severity of symptoms, the CDC says, and vaccination status is one of them. A mild infection then could still leave you with a high fever, chills and muscle aches, and kind of knock you out for a few days, she said. 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. They may be all equally severe or present different . Also, opt for outdoor activities over indoor ones, and if transmission rates are high in your area, weara maskin indoor public places. For those patients with asthma who are having a wheeze with this, we may prescribe puffers for them to help out," she said. Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone. Its possible you have COVID-19 but took the test before the virus was detectable. Join AARP for just $9 per yearwhen you sign up for a 5-year term. If youre unsure if you have a cold or COVID, get tested as soon as possible. Other people may have muscle aches, fever and chills. Fact-checked on July 14, 2022, by Marley Hall, a writer and fact checker specializing in medical and health information. 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. If someone else in your household has tested positive or has symptoms, it's probably safe to assume you do, too. Night sweats, another symptom cited by a doctor at a media briefing in South Africa early in the country's Omicron wave, has been touted by tabloids as "a telltale sign which only happens at night . You are now subscribed to our newsletters. Symptoms to watch for and when to seek hospital care. This is why getting booster shots, as well as flu shots, masking, and getting tested remain important, he says. . Sign up now:Get smarter about your money and career with our weekly newsletter, Get Make It newsletters delivered to your inbox, Learn more about the world of CNBC Make It, 2023 CNBC LLC. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. Find a COVID-19 vaccine or booster near you: https://t.co/xbvNiaVJKV. Both subvariants spread more quickly, maybe because people don't realize they are sick with the virus. The COVID-19 Omicron variant and common flu: Symptoms and treatment . sore throat. 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. Redness and swelling at the injection site. "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. Diarrhea, a common symptom for earlier variants, may turn up. 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. So far, research shows that its more transmissible and causes less severe disease than earlier variants, like Delta. . Those patients go on to develop symptomstwo or three days later, and then often find their symptoms startimprovingthree or four days after that. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. A person is also considered contagious before symptoms appear. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those symptoms include sore throat, runny nose, aches and pains, a dry cough, fever, nausea and diarrhea. "Occasionally there can be nausea and diarrhea," Gulick said. Leading experts say you should take 3 upper respiratory symptoms seriously and test for COVID-19 sooner rather than later. Both experts and public health officers seem to have noted that the BA.2.12.1 variant may be triggering mild breakthrough cases that don't prompt sick individuals to think about signing up for a COVID-19 test. 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. For those without symptoms, CDC guidance states they are considered contagious at least two days before their positive test. "So, staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines provides the best protection against severe outcomes.". We want them to seek the appropriate medical care," she said. How to treat yourself at home if you get COVID-19, Why COVID-19 hospitalizations of Canadian kids and infants could keep rising as Omicron spreads. Even now, for people who haven't gotten vaccinated, they can still benefit from vaccination.. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately: Trouble breathing "But we are certainly seeing an increase in cases in the community, and that's spilling over to more patients admitted with COVID.". Its updated booster has 25 micrograms targeting the original strain, and 25 targeting the omicron subvariants. 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. Diarrhea as a symptom of COVID-19 has significant consequences for public health. Vaccination hesitancy and postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2: Is it time to reconsider? The U.S. CDC has highlighted the variety of Covid symptoms that have been reported, noting "anyone can have mild to severe symptoms" that may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus . How the Pandemic Will Be Different in 2022, Be sure to check the date on the box before you test yourself, Why COVID-19 Variants Have Greek Names, AARP Prescription Discounts provided by Optum Rx, Free Rx discount card for use at over 66,000 pharmacies nationwide, AARP Online Fitness powered by LIFT session, Customized workouts designed around your goals and schedule, SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS. Read on to learn more about the newest Omicron subvariant and its most common symptoms. Until more people have been sick with BA.4 and BA.5 longer, it will be hard to pinpoint the specifics of these symptoms, Dr. Rutherford said. Viral Immunology. Diarrhea. O'Connor says that many emergency departments across Canada are offering virtual consultations, and she suggests people try that first before coming to hospital. The potential for the virus to be transmitted via the fecal-oral route presents additional challenges for areas . 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. 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. "People have to understand, if they feel sick, we don't want them not coming to the emergency department because they're scared. However, the CDC notes this list is not exhaustive, and people might experience different symptoms or combinations of symptoms . 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. The Omicron coronavirus variant is very transmissible, making it likely you or someone you know will catch it. Persistent pain or pressure in the chest. The best masks are N95s or equivalents, such as Canadian-made FN95 masks, as well as KN95s and KF94s. Finally, dont forget all the preventive efforts that can help you dodge an omicron infection in the first place. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Loss of smell or taste. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Fever. Many are asking these questions as omicron cases surge nationwide and as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention update their quarantine and isolation guidelines, which now differ depending on whether or not you have a symptomatic infection. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. But if your oxygen levels drop and you start to feel dizzy or short of breath, you may need to get treatment for COVID-19 at a hospital. 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. Free online workshop! The FDA recommends taking another test 48 hours after the first. Headache. For some, symptoms last as much as 10 to 14 days. Cough. "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.". 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 . "This list is not all possible symptoms," the CDC states. 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. Some symptoms of Omicron infection include fever, dry cough, runny nose, aches and pains, nausea and diarrhea. "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. Congestion or runny nose. Sneezing. Loss of appetite makes sense, too, if one of the main new symptoms is vomiting. "Especially if you have compatible symptoms, take a negative result with not just one grain of salt, but with maybe a whole truckload of salt," said Oughton. "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. Also known as "stealth" Omicron, BA.2 is the dominant strain in the U.S., sparking new questions. Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. "If you're taking multiple at home tests, you know, the recommendation is five days later take a test. "It is highly anticipated that a more targeted vaccine to current variants will be needed for the fall.". Starting the medications right away can significantly reduce your risks for being hospitalized with COVID-19. 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. People should also be aware that diarrhoea is not just a possible symptom of Covid but also features in numerous medical conditions. And Will I Need It Again? Any of these symptoms in any order may appear within two to 14 days after being exposed to SARS-CoV-2. The most common Omicron symptoms include cough, fatigue, and a runny nose, according to health officials in the US and Europe. Learn how vehicle tech like blind spot warnings and drowsy driving alerts can help make driving safer. The experience of COVID diarrhea is very similar to how we feel sick from a regular stomach bug. CBC Marketplace tested KN95 and KF94 masks sold online and at big box stores. Omicron symptoms can look like flu and cold symptoms and cause headache, sore throat and runny nose. Very sick patients often feel short of breath, says Dr. Lisa Salamon, an emergency physician with Scarborough Health Network in Toronto. At Atrium Health hospitals, where Dr. Passarettti works, hospitalizations due to the BA.5 variant spiked in mid-2022. "If your heart [is] missing beats or skipping beats or if your heart's really racing, those would be the other warning signs that really should be taken very seriously," he said. The variant is shattering case records and sending test positivity rates soaring. 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. 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. Read on to learn what you need to know about the subvariants and how to stay healthy. 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. And if you are sick, or suspect you could be sick, stay home. 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. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Text Size. Moreover, though they tend to cause less severe infections as compared to their predecessors, some symptoms seem to be common. (Shilpa Thakur) Patients often get COVID diarrhea after being infected with Delta or Omicron . Marketplace also found some N95s held up better than others in testing. Previously common symptoms such as shortness of breath, fever and loss of smell fell down the rankings. 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. Dr. Rutherford estimated that the number of cases might be more than twice that reported. "The Coronavirus Self-Checker is an interactive clinical assessment tool that will assist individuals ages 13 and older, and parents and caregivers of children ages 2 to 12 on deciding when to seek testing or medical care if they suspect they or someone they know has contracted COVID-19 or has come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19," the CDC's website reads.