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The UK variant of the coronavirus is more contagious. However, that’s not the only thing that sets it apart from the original SARS-CoV-2. Scientists noticed that infection with the B.1.1.7 mutation gave slightly different symptoms. What specifically? Research on this topic has just been published. It’s worth knowing their results for your own benefit.
- Coughing, tiredness, sore throat and muscle aches may be more common in people who catch British variant B.1.1.7.
- Smell and taste disturbances appear less frequently compared to infection with older variants
- In both study groups, headaches, dyspnoea, diarrhea and vomiting were similar
- More current information can be found on the Onet homepage.
The British variant of the coronavirus (referred to as B.1.1.7) was first identified in September 2020. The British Minister of Health announced its detection on December 14. Since then, the presence of the pathogen has been confirmed in at least 60 countries and territories around the world. In January, it was also identified in Poland.
It is estimated that the mutation from Great Britain is 30 to 70 percent. more contagious than the original coronavirus. Recently, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the British variant “may be associated with higher mortality”. Scientists suspect that the B.1.1.7 mutation may be up to 30-40 percent. more lethal compared with previously circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2. On the other hand, an important argument is made that this assessment is based on early and very uncertain data.
– In order to determine whether the British variant is more lethal, carefully conducted research is needed. At this stage, providing such information is spreading fear – commented Dr. Piotr Rzymski from the Medical University of Karol Marcinkowski in Poznań. More information is expected in the next few weeks.
Meanwhile researchers point to another difference between the old variants and the UK mutation. This time about the symptoms. The differences in symptoms were indicated by an analysis carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) – a British government agency that collects and shares statistical information.
Infection with the British variant – what are the symptoms and what makes them stand out
The ONS study was conducted on a randomly selected group of 6. residents of Great Britain, some tests confirmed infection with the new SARS-CoV-2 mutation, 2,5 thousand. people became infected with the “old” version of the pathogen. The analyzes of the observed symptoms lasted two months, from mid-November to mid-January. As it turned out?
- British doctors point out a new COVID-19 symptom. It is “covid language”. It appears more and more often
Coughing, tiredness, sore throat and muscle aches may be more common in people who catch British variant B.1.1.7. On the other hand, disturbances in smell and taste appear less frequently.
If you look at the details of the study, they are as follows.
In the group of about 3,5 thousand people infected with the new variant of the coronavirus:
- 35 percent had a cough
- 32 percent felt tired
- 25 percent – muscle aches
- 21,8 percent struggled with a sore throat
Among 2,5 thousand people infected with an older variant of the pathogen:
- 28 percent had a cough
- 29 percent felt tired
- 21 percent had muscle aches
- 19 percent – sore throat
The study also showed that 16 percent. people with the new variant lost their sense of taste, and 15 percent. – sense of smell. This is less than in the case of infection with the original variant of the coronavirus – disturbances in the sense of smell and taste were reported by 18 percent. patients.
Headaches, dyspnoea, diarrhea and vomiting were similar in both groups.
- What are the common and atypical symptoms of COVID-19? [WE EXPLAIN]
Lawrence Young, virologist and professor of molecular oncology at the University of Warwick, notes that B.1.1.7. 23 changes compared to the original Wuhan virus have been identified so far. – Some of these changes can affect the body’s immune response and the extent of symptoms associated with an infection – underlines. There is also evidence that people infected with variant B.1.1.7 have a higher virus load – that is, more viruses ‘reproduce’ in their bodies. In the opinion of prof. Young, this can result in “more frequent coughing, muscle pain and fatigue” – explains the researcher.
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