Since it emerged in November 2021, the Omicron COVID variant has completely changed the course of the pandemic. Read our, Experts Explain How COVID-19 May Be Causing New Cases of Diabetes, Too Soon to Tell If Omicron Will Create More Long COVID, What You Need to Know About the XBB.1.5 'Kraken' Variant. Rules and guidance around what to do are changing rapidly, but there are a few key things you need to know right now. The updated booster shots contain the same number of micrograms, with 15 targeting the original strain and the other 15 targeting BA.4 and BA.5. "If you're taking multiple at home tests, you know, the recommendation is five days later take a test. By Laura Hensley Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness, Accenture exec says, How this 39-year-old earns $26,000 a year in California. "I think if you're being extra careful there, if you wanted to test again, you know, at seven even, sometimes people look at three to get an earlier sense of things. 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). 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. Some people may never experience symptoms, though they can still spread the virus. Oughton is mindful many places across Canada may be experiencing cold weather, so open windows may be a limited solution. "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. AARP Membership $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. "In children, Omicron can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses with symptoms including high fever, diarrhea, and vomiting, which may cause dehydration. Omicron symptoms can look like flu and cold symptoms and cause headache, sore throat and runny nose. Loss of smell or taste. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Vaccination hesitancy and postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2: Is it time to reconsider? Testing, if you suspect you have COVID, can help curb spread and protect others. Sore throat continues to be a symptom reported, particularly in mild breakthrough infections, Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady previously stated. A doctor and pharmacist say many treatments for common colds and flu will also be helpful for double-vaccinated adults who are recovering from COVID-19 at home. Those shots were never released to the public, because BA.1 was quickly surpassed by other omicron subvariants but their design is extremely similar to the shots now available at pharmacies and clinics nationwide. Dr. Rutherford estimated that the number of cases might be more than twice that reported. But for the most part, most symptoms Rutherford was aware of were respiratory. Marketplace also found some N95s held up better than others in testing. "This list is not all possible symptoms," the CDC states. Standout omicron symptoms are primarily respiratory. A passenger . For . But at 92 per cent, we'd be wanting you to come in for further examination," she said. Rapid antigen tests may be just as hard to find. If you know or think you've got Omicron, stay home. New COVID Variants May Fuel a Winter SurgeWhat to Know About BQ.1, XBB, and Others, Omicron Infection Timeline: When Symptoms Start and How Long They Last, BA.2.75 Is the Newest Omicron SubvariantHere's What We Know So Far. Ask an Expert: Do I Really Need the Bivalent Booster? . "Omicron, [meanwhile,] is less . It found five symptoms were the most common: Over 80% commonly reported a cough, while 72% experienced a sore throat. ", "Even if it's a sore throat, no matter what it is," she said. nausea or vomiting. Runny nose. Previously she was a reporter and editor for WTOP Radio in Washington, D.C. A recipient of a Gracie Award and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, she also participated in a dementia fellowship with the National Press Foundation. "Occasionally there can be nausea and diarrhea," Gulick said. 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 . Sore throat. 8. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription toAARP The Magazine. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. "Many patients we're seeing are actually testing positive before they have symptoms, so they're testing positive on a rapid antigen," she said. Diarrhea. . 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. Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone. Read on to learn what you need to know about the subvariants and how to stay healthy. Though more people were in the hospital in 2022, the number of deaths nationwide plateaued from April to September 2022, according to the CDC. Fatigue or body aches . Its possible you have COVID-19 but took the test before the virus was detectable. This is expected. Communities can avoid major complications and deaths from the BA.4 and BA.5 variants the same way as with any other variant. "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. Other symptoms may show up with the newer strains, George Rutherford, MD, a professor of epidemiology at the University of California, San Francisco, told Health. 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. These include: A runny nose "I think that people [are] having a very hard time wrapping their head around how much that Omicron has changed the rules of the game and how we have to change how we handle it in terms of our own individual risks, as well as our behaviour within a society," said Dr. Matthew Oughton, in an interview with Dr. Brian Goldman, host of CBC podcast The Dose. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try Editor's Note: This story, originally published Jan. 10, 2022, has been updated to reflect new information. Symptoms usually appear one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus. Are Symptoms of BA.4 and BA.5 More Severe? Will a U.S. COVID-19 vaccine maker be able to stay in business? 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. We also need to keep in mind the true definition of mild, Hilary Babcock, MD, a professor of medicine who specializes in prevention of infection transmission at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, told Verywell. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. Fever. He also says that on top of vaccines, its important people wear masks, practice social distancing and avoid indoor crowds whenever possible. Shutterstock. 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. Laura Hensley is an award-winning lifestyle journalist who has worked in some of the largest newsrooms in Canada. 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. Of those, 220.2 million are fully vaccinated. The top symptoms with Omicron infections, according to a ZOE study, are . While vaccine immunity helps lower the severity of infection, it doesnt offer complete protection. New confusion. Also, opt for outdoor activities over indoor ones, and if transmission rates are high in your area, weara maskin indoor public places. Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. 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. 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 . sore throat. Symptoms of Omicron infection may be different, too. Tweet. Those looking to get tested after exposure should do so five days after the exposure or if they begin experiencing, the CDC recommends. stuffy nose. They've often been associated with those who are feeling mild COVID-19 symptoms, including children, according to Insider. Omicron symptoms overlap with typical cold symptoms, so it's very important to get tested if you have cold-like symptoms. The quick spread of BA.4 and BA.5 sets them apart from other Omicron strains. Fact-checked on July 14, 2022, by Marley Hall, a writer and fact checker specializing in medical and health information. Vomiting. The CDC reports that people's most common complaints when infected with Omicron include cough, runny nose, congestion, and fatigue. Together, the evidence shows a potential roadmap for the side effects you can expect after getting one of the new boosters, and how severe those side effects might be. People should also be aware that diarrhoea is not just a possible symptom of Covid but also features in numerous medical conditions. 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. You may not lose your sense of . If youre unsure if you have a cold or COVID, get tested as soon as possible. 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. "That's good because they're not getting seriously sick, they're not threatening the healthcare system, but it's certainly of some concern because they do have the potential to transmit to others.". The best masks are N95s or equivalents, such as Canadian-made FN95 masks, as well as KN95s and KF94s. 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. Nasal congestion/stuffy nose. Is your N95-style mask failing you? Leading experts say you should take 3 upper respiratory symptoms seriously and test for COVID-19 sooner rather than later. Stage three is when early symptoms start to pop up, like lower back ache, night sweats and a scratchy throat. Those patients go on to develop symptomstwo or three days later, and then often find their symptoms startimprovingthree or four days after that. How to Protect Against the Omicron Variant, Expect new treatments, more testing and additional variants, Using letters of the alphabet simplifies tracking, Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term -43% off the standard annual rate, Access exclusive discounts, programs, & services, Double down with a FREE second membership. Its updated booster has 25 micrograms targeting the original strain, and 25 targeting the omicron subvariants. While vaccines reduced the impact of Omicron, they themselves were impacted: studies have shown that vaccine effectiveness against infection, disease, hospitalization and death waned (though at different rates) over time. This is likely how BA.2.12.1 is spreading quite rapidly; in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut alone, the viral subvariant is tied to upwards of 70% of new infections alone, per recent reports. Diarrhea; What is the COVID omicron variant? Dont have insurance? "Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you." According to the American Medical Association (AMA), the most common symptoms of BA.5 are: Fever. Runny nose. It'll just take a moment. Moderna's monovalent shot contains 50 micrograms of mRNA per dose targeting the original strain. The CDC says to look for emergency warning signs for coronavirus. "They may only feel like they have a cold," she said. If you're still wearing a single-ply cloth mask, it won't offer you enough protection and it's time to search out something better. "COVID tends to present similarly, and [it] may vary from person to person, but the most common stuff we're seeing are fevers, congestion, [and] sore throat," Katie Passaretti, MD, vice president and enterprise chief epidemiologist with Atrium Health, told Health. "Often the sore throat is the kind of [first] symptom, and then the rest kind of come on.". The most common Omicron symptoms include cough, fatigue, and a runny nose, according to health officials in the US and Europe. More infections were driving a higher number of COVID-19 hospitalizations rather than more severe symptoms. Many of the common omicron variant symptoms resemble other COVID-19 symptoms. "Initial symptoms appear to be related to a scratchy or sore throat, often quite mild," she says. Let's delve deeper to understand this: Zoe COVID app, which keeps track of COVID symptoms through positive patients using the app, notified that most Omicron patients complain of diarrhea. The CDC announced the first known case of the omicron variant in the United States on Dec. 1, days after its . 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. What kind of symptoms does this highly contagious variant present, you may wonder? Copyright HT Digital Streams Limited All rights reserved. According to the Zoe health app, COVID diarrhea can last for up to seven days.
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