You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. Diarrhea, a common symptom for earlier variants, may turn up. She's the deputy medical director of the emergency departments at the University Health Network in Toronto. "The most reported symptoms of Omicron are really very much like a cold, especially in people who have been vaccinated," says Dr. Claire Steves of King's College London. AARP Membership - LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. Symptoms to watch for and when to seek hospital care. Most people will have a saturation of between 97 and 100 per cent, she says. . According to earlier CDC guidance, COVID symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 14 days after someone is exposed to the virus. Other people may have muscle aches, fever . "The symptoms of the Omicron variant, which includes the BA.2 lineage, and the Delta variant, are similar," Erica Johnson, MD, . It'll just take a moment. And while many people who have come down with an omicron infection dodged serious COVID-19 complications, its important to note that omicron is not mild for everyone. Severe chest pains and worsening or severe shortness of breath are signs you should head to the hospital. Pfizer and BioNTech Submit for U.S. Emergency Use Authorization of Omicron Covid variant symptoms? Here's what we know so far - CNBC 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. COVID: BA.5 symptoms, infection, what to know about omicron subvariant again. "But we are certainly seeing an increase in cases in the community, and that's spilling over to more patients admitted with COVID.". 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. "Occasionally there can be nausea and diarrhea," Gulick said. Although the first cases of Omicron were observed in late 2021, the variant might have been around for several months. 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. Again, everyone is different and will experience their own early symptoms, but these seem to be among the group reported be most patients. Oughton is mindful many places across Canada may be experiencing cold weather, so open windows may be a limited solution. Omicron Infection Timeline: Exposure to Immunity - Health Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Also known as "stealth" Omicron, BA.2 is the dominant strain in the U.S., sparking new questions. stuffy nose. This particular subvariant is the most infectious of the Omicron collection of viruses, as the third iteration of Omicron that first began increasing breakthrough COVID-19 cases late last fall. Omicron has been circulating in the U.S. for just about a year now, and in that time, researchers have learned more about the variant, including the symptoms it can cause. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 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. The 5 stages of an Omicron infection you need to know about If you're thinking of getting an omicron-specific Covid booster shot, you might be wondering what its side effects are and how severe they might be. If you experience diarrhea with COVID-19, you are not alone. If someone else in your household has tested positive or has symptoms, it's probably safe to assume you do, too. The newer subvariants have the ability to evade immunity from vaccines or prior infections, or both, perthe Deseret News. The device monitors blood oxygen levels. How Are the BA.4 and BA.5 Variants Different? 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. The best masks are N95s or equivalents, such as Canadian-made FN95 masks, as well as KN95s and KF94s. "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. What Are Symptoms of BA.4 and BA.5 Variants? A passenger . The symptoms that arise from a case of COVID-19 caused by the now-dominant omicron strain known as BA.5 don't seem to differ from those caused by its parent variant or any of the other omicron offshoots, experts say. 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. According to the Zoe health app, COVID diarrhea can last for up to seven days. But for the most part, most symptoms Rutherford was aware of were respiratory. Even now, for people who haven't gotten vaccinated, they can still benefit from vaccination.. More infections were driving a higher number of COVID-19 hospitalizations rather than more severe symptoms. 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. pic.twitter.com/PcgVBYojKi. 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. Omicron Symptoms: Is Throwing Up a Sign of COVID-19 Infection? Another option to consider if you test negative for COVID-19 but feel ill is a flu test, Washer says, since there are also treatments specific to this illness that can help you feel better. Most reports indicate that even the latest Omicron subvariant doesn't lead to severe symptoms in breakthrough cases, nor a spike in hospitalizations or death outright. Redness and swelling at the injection site. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea or diarrhea. More true than ever right now because sick, even a little bit sick, until proven otherwise with a test - that's COVID. Fatigue or body aches . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription toAARP The Magazine. Diarrhea. 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. This is why getting booster shots, as well as flu shots, masking, and getting tested remain important, he says. World health leaders are warning that omicron, the new COVID variant discovered in November, could cause "severe consequences. While vaccine immunity helps lower the severity of infection, it doesnt offer complete protection. Keep checking this story for updates on vaccination rates, latest data updates of new cases and the omicron variant, along with local and national headlines.Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in OklahomaThe Oklahoma State Department of Health announced it will no longer release daily COVID-19 situation updates as it moves toward the . "But of course, that's really not the reality for many, maybe even most Canadians who are facing this.". Of course, people at higher risk of serious illness can still face more dire health outcomeseven if they are vaccinated. "And then you get other people infected.". And theyre hiding a horrifying secret. Cold-like symptoms - including a runny nose, sore throat and persistent sneezing - became more common, along with a headache and cough, particularly in people who had been vaccinated. 2022. doi:10.1101/2021.12.31.21268583, Arnold CG, Monte AA, Littlefield K, Vest A, Palmer BE. KOCO 5 is keeping you updated on the COVID-19 pandemic in Oklahoma. Research also suggests that people who are infected with omicron aresick for shorter periods of timethan those with delta. 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. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), the most common symptoms of BA.5 are: Fever. More than 1 million prescriptions for these antiviral pills were filled at pharmacies between Dec. 23, 2021, and May 21, 2022,a CDC report shows. Chills. Dr. Oughton says other warning signs include persistent fever that lasts at least two days, if not more, and heart palpitations. You may not lose your sense of . What should you do if you think you have Omicron? 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. "In children, Omicron can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses with symptoms including high fever, diarrhea, and vomiting, which may cause dehydration. How to prevent infection by the BA.2.12.1 subvariant: 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. Diarrhea. Vaccination hesitancy and postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2: Is it time to reconsider? Cough. But notably, in those clinical trials, the severity of the side effects was very mild. A study conducted by researchers in Norway, following an omicron outbreak in November 2021, interviewed over a hundred individuals, with 89% vaccinated but not boosted. Fever. "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].". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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. At Atrium Health hospitals, where Dr. Passarettti works, hospitalizations due to the BA.5 variant spiked in mid-2022. Your session has expired, please login again. If you've been exposed to someone with the virus or have COVID-19 symptoms and are waiting for a . Unusual COVID-19 symptoms: What are they? - Mayo Clinic Predict the closing value of sensex and win free subscription. The Omicron variant is the most transmissible variant to date for all age groups, including both adults and children. Rules and guidance around what to do are changing rapidly, but there are a few key things you need to know right now. . Still, CDC data showed the most common symptoms so far are cough, fatigue, congestion and a runny nose. . A simple swab of the nose can tell you whether you have COVID-19 in about 15 minutes. 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. The CDC reports that people's most common complaints when infected with Omicron include cough, runny nose, congestion, and fatigue. "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. Diarrhea; What is the COVID omicron variant? And for the most part, that seems to hold true with omicron and its subvariants, including thenow-dominant BA.5. "Many patients we're seeing are actually testing positive before they have symptoms, so they're testing positive on a rapid antigen," she said. Because omicron symptoms can be mistaken for the common cold or flu, doctors urge anyone experiencing them to isolate until symptoms subside. The South African doctor who was the first to detect the COVID-19 omicron variant, Angelique Coetzee, described most of the symptoms as "extremely mild" when alerting people what to look out . "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. Why are more workers returning to the office in Asia and Europe than the U.S.? ", "Even if it's a sore throat, no matter what it is," she said. Fever or chills. sore throat. 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. Others experience no symptoms at all. A multicenter study in 2022 looked at 1672 hospitalized COVID-19 positive . Testing, if you suspect you have COVID, can help curb spread and protect others. "I've told my own staff this, it's what I do myself if you are sick, even a little bit sick, stay home. Read on to learn more about the newest Omicron subvariant and its most common symptoms. "Preliminary data from studies in Beijing and South Africa have signaled what is expected; new variants and subvariants may be more likely to cause reinfection in an individual who was previously infected with an old variant," Dr. Nagrani explains. The Omicron Variant of COVID-19 - WebMD 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. 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 with the symptoms themselves, it was too early as of September 2022 to tell just how severely the variants might affect patients. Stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines and avoid poorly ventilated areas. How Many Times Can You Get Reinfected With the Same COVID Variant? Kashif J. Piracha, MD, FACP, FASN, FNKF, is a practicing physician at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. The virus can infect some cells in a patient's gastrointestinal tract, which would lead to stomach issues like diarrhea, Dr. Pekosz . Seventy-four percent reported fatigue. Sure Signs You May Have Omicron, Say Experts - Eat This Not That These were: a persistent cough, runny nose, fatigue, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, fever and sneezing. Why Are There So Many Omicron SubvariantsAnd What Can They Tell Us About the Future of the Pandemic? Half of them didnt offer the level of protection theyre supposed to. The BA.1 trials only tested a few hundred people, which is a relatively small sample size compared to the thousands of Americans set to receive the new BA.5 doses, Offit notes. Runny nose. This abandoned high school was converted into a 31-unit apartment building, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, now available at pharmacies and clinics nationwide, held true during the last round of booster shots, Redness and swelling at the injection site. I'm going to work,'" Dr. Passaretti said. And when comparing rates of smell and taste loss during the earlier phases of the pandemic to more recent variant waves, researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University found thatthe chances of the symptom occurringwere 17 percent for omicron, 44 percent for delta and 50 percent for the alpha variant. Zoe COVID apps data showed, one in five patients gets COVID diarrhea after being infected with Delta or Omicron strains, even if they had two or three doses of vaccination. But COVID-19 can cause symptoms you may not expect, including: Digestive symptoms. Dec 10, 2021, 10:02 AM. "Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you." The evidence so far, according to Poehling, is anecdotal and not based on scientific research. Nasal congestion/stuffy nose. Muscle or body aches. 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. Think you may have Omicron? Here are things you can do Those looking to get tested after exposure should do so five days after the exposure or if they begin experiencing, the CDC recommends. Moderna's monovalent shot contains 50 micrograms of mRNA per dose targeting the original strain. "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. Arwady's comments echo those of other medical experts who are watching omicron cases. Gulick says that even for those who are vaccinated, a reinfection rate may be as high as 30%. 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 . Headache. For those without symptoms, CDC guidance states they are considered contagious at least two days before their positive test. Fact-checked on July 14, 2022, by Marley Hall, a writer and fact checker specializing in medical and health information.