That's a familiar list: It's the same group of side effects that came with the original . Peter Gulick, DO, an associate professor of medicine at Michigan State University, told Verywell that the symptoms of Omicron mainly remain in the upper respiratory tract and can include a sore throat, congestion, runny nose and headache. 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. 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. 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. It found five symptoms were the most common: Over 80% commonly reported a cough, while 72% experienced a sore throat. "You should get tested for COVID-19 if you develop any of the 11 known COVID symptoms," says Dr . 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. Only 54% had a fever. A PCR test (short for polymerase chain reaction), administered at doctors offices or testing sites, can also confirm your suspicions. ; And how to prevent infection by the BA.2.12.1 strain. Once a classic sign of COVID-19 infection, loss of sense of smell or taste seems to be less common among patients getting sick with BA.4 and BA.5, Dr. Passaretti noted. 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. You may not lose your sense of . Shutterstock. Symptoms of Omicron infection may be different, too. Emergency care for COVID-19 symptoms. They also reported that having diarrhea as a COVID symptom was found to be linked to a greater risk of hospitalization, especially among people who also experienced abdominal pain and unusual muscle pain. Diarrhea; What is the COVID omicron variant? Sneezing. Read on to learn what you need to know about the subvariants and how to stay healthy. Fact-checked on July 14, 2022, by Marley Hall, a writer and fact checker specializing in medical and health information. What supplements should we really be taking? sore throat. "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. Johnson and Campbell note that there have been some reports of higher rates of upper respiratory tract symptoms with omicron, including sore throat and nasal congestion. diarrhea. However, many of the more common Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 symptoms are not severe, and you can often treat them at home. Still, CDC data showed the most common symptoms so far are cough, fatigue, congestion and a runny nose. And will it take Utah for a wild ride?. Unlike COVID-19, a cold is usually . Is your N95-style mask failing you? If you're not vaccinated or boosted, I certainly have a much higher concern that you could get infected. 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. With previous coronavirus strains like Delta, the . "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].". Occasionally there can be nausea and diarrhea, Gulick said. Omicron BA.5 May Increase the Risk of Outdoor TransmissionHere's How to Stay Safe. Did Woody Harrelson promote a COVID-19 anti-vaccine theory on Saturday Night Live? According to the American Medical Association (AMA), the most common symptoms of BA.5 are: Omicron and its subvariants are highly contagious theyre even known for reinfecting people who recently got over COVID-19. 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. 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. It does indeed seem that BA.2.12.1 is more easily transmissible than earlier strains of Omicron SARS-CoV-2, as experts have established it is about 25% more transmissible than "stealth" Omicron, or about 75% more transmissible than original Omicron strains that impacted the 2021 winter holiday season. Vomiting. Peter Gulick, DO, an associate professor of medicine at Michigan State University, told Verywell that the symptoms of Omicron mainly remain in the upper respiratory tract and can include a sore throat, congestion, runny nose and headache. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea or diarrhea. "In children, Omicron can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses with symptoms including high fever, diarrhea, and vomiting, which may cause dehydration. Ask an Expert: Do I Really Need the Bivalent Booster? Be sure to check with your pharmacist if you are taking other medications that those painkillers might interfere with. Flashback: Gastrointestinal symptoms have been mentioned as possible symptoms before. . And for the most part, that seems to hold true with omicron and its subvariants, including thenow-dominant BA.5. 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. AARP Membership LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. Add some good to your morning and evening. . WATCH | Tips for treatingyour Omicron symptoms: If you can, it's important to get vaccinated or boosted. The CDC reports that people's most common complaints when infected with Omicron include cough, runny nose, congestion, and fatigue. Like the other Omicron strains that have been dominant in the U.S. since December 2021, experts say BA.4 and BA.5 mainly cause cold-like symptoms and respiratory or breathing issues. I'm going to work,'" Dr. Passaretti said. As of Thursday, Ontario's COVID-19 test positivity rate is 29.2 per cent, while Quebec's health minister said the health-care system is missing about 20,000 workers who have been infected with or exposed to the virus. 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. But unlike delta, many patients are not losing their taste or smell. COVID-19 might cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhea either alone or with other COVID-19 symptoms. "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. All Rights Reserved. ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Headache. Sore throat. Still, symptoms don't seem to be much different than for Omicron or other types of COVID-19 infection. Arwady said that now, those who are fully vaccinated aren't necessarily getting "seriously ill and having fevers for days and difficult breathing," but are instead experiencing a more mild illness. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. "We should keep our eyes wide open to what side effects and adverse events might occur, and still keep in mind that this is a new product," Offit says. Early infection symptoms that are commonly being noted with these particular infections may have something to do with that, explains Dr. Huang. But for the most part, most symptoms Rutherford was aware of were respiratory. A sore throat and hoarse voice may also be more common among people infected with omicron, compared with delta, researchers in the U.K. discovered. The quick spread of BA.4 and BA.5 sets them apart from other Omicron strains. Runny nose. However, protection against hospitalization and death have remained high, preventing millions of people from dying, WHO pointed out, Download the Mint app and read premium stories. 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. World health leaders are warning that omicron, the new COVID variant discovered in November, could cause "severe consequences. The good news is that overall, Omicron is milder than Delta in both vaccinated and unvaccinated people, Gulick says. Since BA.4 and BA.5 have become the dominant strains, Dr. Wesley Long, an experimental pathologist at Houston Methodist Hospital,told CNNthat he has seen cases of reinfection. Sore, scratchy throat . Check with your local health center or testing site (find one oncovid.gov/tests) many are offering them for free. It doesnt even make the list of the top five symptoms in the ongoing ZOE COVID Study, according to a Sept. 13 update. 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. @CDCgov is prepared to quickly identify any new variant & evaluate the public health impact.Updated variant proportions. Read on to learn more about the newest Omicron subvariant and its most common symptoms. Inability to wake or stay awake. Gulick says that even for those who are vaccinated, a reinfection rate may be as high as 30%. 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. For those without symptoms, CDC guidance states they are considered contagious at least two days before their positive test. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Marketplace also found some N95s held up better than others in testing. According to earlier CDC guidance, COVID symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 14 days after someone is exposed to the virus. Previously common symptoms such as shortness of breath, fever and loss of smell fell down the rankings. All Rights Reserved, These 5 symptoms are the most common in omicron, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. List of omicron variant symptoms. 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. "If any of these [symptoms] persist . Again, everyone is different and will experience their own early symptoms, but these seem to be among the group reported be most patients. 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. As Gulick points out, getting booster shots is crucial. If youre unsure if you have a cold or COVID, get tested as soon as possible. Symptoms to watch for and when to seek hospital care. However, the CDC notes this list is not exhaustive, and people might experience different symptoms or combinations of symptoms . Headache. Chills. A stuffy nose was reported by 78%. Chest pain. The Omicron variant is the most transmissible variant to date for all age groups, including both adults and children. "People have to understand, if they feel sick, we don't want them not coming to the emergency department because they're scared. "This list is not all possible symptoms," the CDC states. She repeated earlier calls for people who have any flu- or cold-like symptoms to assume they have COVID "until proven otherwise. . She's the deputy medical director of the emergency departments at the University Health Network in Toronto. Vaccination hesitancy and postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2: Is it time to reconsider? So far, research shows that its more transmissible and causes less severe disease than earlier variants, like Delta. Severe side effects are "generally" most common after receiving a second dose of a vaccine, not after receiving a third or fourth dose, says Offit. 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. Leading experts say you should take 3 upper respiratory symptoms seriously and test for COVID-19 sooner rather than later. Copyright 2022 HT Digital Streams Ltd All Right Reserved. Remove some to bookmark this image. AARP Membership - LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. 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. Fever or chills. Hundreds of Americans are still dying from COVID-19 each day.