Omikron or Delta? Three symptoms will give you a clue. But be careful!

Not long after the Omicron was discovered, it was found to have slightly different symptoms than previous variants of the coronavirus, including Delta. Specialists are looking at these changes very carefully. More reports are published. The latest one was prepared by the British government agency Office for National Statistics. Three symptoms are particularly noteworthy: the first two appear less frequently in an Omicron infection than in a Delta infection, and the third – much more often. What are the symptoms and what might the consequences be?

1. The analysis carried out by the British Office for National Statistics shows that most of the symptoms reported in Delta infection occur less frequently in Omicron infection
2. Patients with Omikron less frequently than Delta infection reported, inter alia, fever, shortness of breath, cough, tiredness, headache, stomach pain. The biggest difference was in the loss of taste and smell
3. The symptom that appeared more often with the Omicron is a sore throat. Scientists make an important point here
4. You can find more about the coronavirus on the TvoiLokony home page

Symptoms of infection vary depending on the mutation of the coronavirus

What symptoms might indicate a coronavirus infection? The answer to this question helps to quickly diagnose the problem, react to it as quickly (isolation, test, contact a doctor) and, consequently, reduce the spread of the coronavirus. However, the matter is not that simple. It is known that symptoms of infection vary depending on the SARS-CoV-2 mutation.

In the case of the Omikron super-variant, the doctors noticed these changes very quickly. As is the danger of confusing infection with this mutation with the common cold. Dr. Claire Steves, who was involved in the ZOE COVID Symptom Study, warned against this. – The most frequently reported symptoms of Omikron infection are very similar to a cold, especially in people who have been vaccinated – emphasized the specialist. Let us remind you that the ZOE COVID Symptom Study is based on an application that registers reports from millions of British patients with coronavirus, thanks to which it is possible to catch changes in COVID-19 symptoms over time).

Further part below the video.

The mentioned program is not the only one that analyzes and reports observations regarding the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Such work is also carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), a British government agency that collects and shares statistical information on, inter alia, population. A new report on the course of the coronavirus epidemic in the UK has recently been published, including symptoms reported by patients with Delta infection and the dominant variant of Omikron (data from 9 – 31 December 2021). Three symptoms are particularly noteworthy.

1. Delta vs Omikron. What are the differences in symptoms? [TALLY]

Delta or Omikron – watch out for three symptoms

“In the UK, the most frequently reported symptoms were invariably cough, fatigue and headache,” emphasize the authors of the report. On the other hand, most reported symptoms decreased in December 2021 (58%) compared to November 2021 (65%). “It appears that these changes are due to the Omikron variant,” reads the document.

The graphics attached to the report (see below) show that most of the symptoms reported at Delta with Omicron infection are less frequent. These include: fever, shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Muscle pain has also been reported less frequently. The biggest difference, however, was in the frequency of loss of taste and (to an even greater degree) of smell. They occurred much less frequently in infection with Omikron.

1. The most common symptoms of Omikron infection. Neither belongs to the “classic three”

There is, however, one symptom that occurs more frequently with the Omicron than with the Delta infection. It’s about a sore (or scratchy) throat. From the observations of doctors, we know that patients often experience dry throat and sharp pain when swallowing. Moreover, the condition appeared to appear before most of the other COVID-19 related symptoms.

At this point, we must mention an important point. A higher incidence of sore throats was also seen among people who tested negative for the coronavirus. “This means that people can report a sore throat due to other infections, such as a cold or the flu,” the authors of the report write. Moreover, “a clear reduction in common specific symptoms – loss of taste / smell means that Omikron is more difficult to detect with symptom-based methods”.

Symptoms are just a clue! This way you can check if you have an infection and what variant infected you

It is worth remembering that the observed symptoms are only indications for establishing a diagnosis. They cannot be used as a reliable method of diagnosing the disease or the variant causing the infection. Hence, it is so important to any ailment that worries us, consult a doctor, the more so as the symptoms may differ individually and shape depending on the immunity state of a given person or the level of vaccination.

1. The treacherous symptoms of Omikron. If you notice them, do a test right away

Diagnostic tests (nasopharyngeal swab for RT-PCR or quick antigen test) will provide certainty whether we are dealing with a cold or a coronavirus. It is similar with the diagnosis of the SARS-CoV-2 variant that caused the infection – this will be possible thanks to a complete genetic analysis, i.e. a PCR test.

It should also be remembered that the disease can be asymptomatic. Graphics prepared by the ONS show that no symptoms have been reported more frequently with Omikron than with Delta. Initial estimates say 30 percent. infection with a superwariant may be subclinical.

You may be interested in:

1. Home tests for COVID-19. How to do them? What mistakes to avoid?
2. Positive home test for COVID-19. What to do next? [WE EXPLAIN]
3. More information about the Omikron sub-option. BA.2 is dangerous to us? The scientists answer

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