Because the Omicron subvariants BA.5 and BA.4 proceed to spread across the country, common symptoms of COVID infections are changing with some now becoming more prevalent than others.
In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Omicron BA.5 subvariant comprises 87.5% of all recent COVID cases, while the BA.4.6 variant makes up 9.2% of latest infections within the U.S.
These highly infectious strains of the virus are being combated by the newest approval of boosters from Moderna and Pfizer which are specially targeted toward recent Omicron mutations.
While persons are becoming less in poor health when infected with COVID-19 as a consequence of vaccinations and immune response, some symptoms of the virus remain the identical irrespective of the variant contracted.
One thing that is still constant with the virus no matter variant are respiratory symptoms, in line with Chicago-based Dr. Allison Arwady, as reported by WMAQ, an NBC affiliate out of Chicago.
“Within the more moderen cases of COVID — which, again, are these newer variants — there’s a number of things that I noticed. Initially, the most important one is that individuals are a lot less more likely to get seriously in poor health. And that signifies that the immune system is best at as with the ability to protect against against that severe illness.”
She continued: “We’re seeing lots of more sore throats, fatigue, still seem some fever, and runny nose.”
Some symptoms that were common within the early days of the pandemic are waning with Arwady explaining, “We’re seeing less of losing taste and smell than we were early on, but we still see a few of it.”
A distinguished symptom that’s persisting in patients is a cough, which Arwady said “tends to be probably the most lingering effect.”
The CDC said on its website that symptoms of COVID-19 infections range from mild to severe illness, which can appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.
The agency said that possible symptoms may include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty respiration, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, recent lack of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.
Latest studies are also saying that first symptoms of COVID-19 are typically cough and muscle pain, with some individuals likely experiencing digestive issues akin to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
In accordance with a recent Southern California University study, as reported by the news outlet, digestive symptoms could also be one in every of the primary signs for some people who they’ve contracted the virus.
“I believe it’s really variable depending from individual to individual,” Dr. Sharon Welbel, the director of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control for Cook County Health in Illinois, said, as reported by WMAQ.
“It is dependent upon age, it is dependent upon comorbid illness, it is dependent upon vaccine status, if one has been infected before potentially their you understand, immune system is revved up more… So, I believe that there is no solution to protect it to predict it,” Welbel added.
More severe symptoms of COVID-19, which the CDC said are “emergency warning signs,” indicate that immediate medical treatment is required, including trouble respiration, persistent pain or pressure within the chest, recent confusion, inability to wake or stay up, and pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone.