Omicron is on everyone’s lips for a few weeks. Dominant in Paris, it has become so in France. This past December 27, at a press brief, Health Minister Olivier Véran also confirmed the variant was “much more contagious than the previous ones”. Therefore, many people are wondering about the usual symptoms caused by this new variant spotted for the first time in South Africa. Are they identical or do they have special features?
Studies are rolling, but according to the first of them, some new symptoms have been reported such as night sweats, while others seem rarer with Omicron than Delta such as the loss of the sense of taste and smell. Here is what we know about these symptoms reported in people infected with Omicron.
According to primary studies, especially carried out in South Africa – Omicron causes light cases. “We have seen patients present with flu like symptoms, dry cough, fever, night sweats and general body pains”, Dr. Unben Pillay told a press brief held by the South-African health minister. Night sweats – not common with the previous variants – seem to very specific to Omicron. From a medical point of view, night sweats are described as “repeated episodes of extreme perspiration” likely to occur when one is sleeping.
Muscle pain, especially in the lower back area, also seem to be a symptom typical to Omicron, so is extreme fatigue – already reported with Delta.
A British doctor also reported skin rashes only noticed in children.
Omicron variant: an “unusual” symptom only spotted in children
As Omicron is hitting France, a UK doctor is worried about an “unusual” symptom only spotted in children. [Read more]
Furthermore, “cough, fatigue, nasal congestion or runny nose” are the most common symptoms reported in Omicron sick, a report released by the U.S. CDC reads.
Omicron variant: an “unusual” symptom only spotted in children
