Coronavirus: GP says 'Omicron is beating the booster'
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Omicron has redefined the way we think about Covid symptoms. Apart from causing the original three, the infection has been linked to new warning signs. The bad news is that the two latest symptoms can linger even after your initial recovery.
Spotting the symptoms promptly and self-isolating could help to stop the spread of the variant.
Omicron can cause the original symptoms, including cough, fever and loss or change to taste and smell, but there are also other signs to be aware of.
According to the data from the ZOE COVID Study App, only half of the patients with Omicron experienced these classic symptoms.
Two lesser-known signs which can persist after the infection are back pain and dizziness.
Consultant Dr Ann Mary told IANS: “Back pain, though common in most viral fevers, but compared to Delta, Omicron patients tend to have more back pain and less loss of smell and taste.
“A significant number of these patients are having back-breaking pain in the lower back and severe myalgia which is adding to the patient’s woes.”
What’s worse, a number of recovered patients are reporting this particular sign is persistent.
One theory is that the myalgia caused by the infection could be behind the long-term back problem.
Myalgia describes muscle pain and aches, according to Hopkins Medicine.
Dr Harish Chafle told Livemint: “It is a possibility that due to inflammatory mediators, this variant is causing more myalgia than any other variant post-recovery.”
Myalgia on its own has been also identified as an Omicron symptom.
One of the first to raise awareness regarding this sign was South African doctor Angelique Coetzee, who first warned of the new variant.
When it comes to dizziness, this warning sign seems to occur rarely but can get worse due to overexertion.
The NHS describes dizziness as feelings of off-balance, giddiness, light-headedness, spinning and faintness.
The health service lists this sign as a symptom of long Covid.
In case you’re not familiar, long Covid describes persisting symptoms that can last for weeks or months after the initial recovery.
If you suffer from lingering symptoms of coronavirus, you should reach out to your GP, the NHS advises.
They will offer support and may even refer you to a specialist if needed.
However, dizziness and back pain aren’t the only new symptoms linked to the new strain.
Other common signs being reported include:
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Sneezing
- Scratchy throat.
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