The earliest symptom of an Omicron. You can hear it before you feel sick

Omicron is an extremely infectious variant of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, it is important to isolate yourself from others as soon as possible in order not to pass on the virus to them and to prevent infection. One of the most common symptoms of Omicron infection, which we can hear before we even feel it and diagnose the disease, can help us with this.

1. Infection with Omicron generally causes a milder COVID-19 course than previous variants
2. The most common symptoms of infection include a sore throat, a scratchy throat, runny nose, headaches, muscle and joint pain, and weakness.
3. Throat ailments may be the first sign of coronavirus infection, and we can “diagnose” them before we feel them, because our voice often changes or hoarseness appears
4. Respond before it’s too late. Get to know your Health Index!
5. You can find more about the coronavirus on the TvoiLokony home page

The omicron produces different symptoms than the previous variants

Infection with Omicron is slightly different from infection caused by previous variants of the coronavirus. This does not mean, of course, that it is not dangerous, because people are still seriously ill, hospitalized and losing the fight for their lives. However, in many people, especially those who are vaccinated, the course of COVID-19 caused by the new variant is mild to moderate, and the malaise passes after a few days.

1. Also read: What is the mild course of COVID-19?

Although some of the symptoms of infection caused by Omicron coincide with the list of symptoms of infection with Alpha, Beta or Delta, it is clearly visible that the new variant “liked” not the lower, but the upper respiratory tract. COVID-19 now manifests itself more often with ailments in the throat and nose, and the cough that appears is rather a result of a feeling of dryness in the throat or irritation of the runny nose (the cough “goes down” less frequently).

The rest of the text below the video.

A sore throat is the most common symptom of Omicron

These throat ailments are also a very characteristic symptom of Omicron. The data collected in the British Zoe Covid application, in which patients enter the symptoms of infection they have noticed themselves, show that a scratchy throat and a sore throat are the most common signs of infection with the Omikron variant today. They are also the earliest symptom that – with adequate vigilance – can quickly alert us that something disturbing is going on.

Interestingly, our throat tells us faster than we think about our being infected. Before we even feel any discomfort within it, we can hear this symptom in the form of a slight hoarseness or simply a changed voice. And because we rarely listen to our own voice so thoroughly and we do not notice the changes taking place in it, it can be noticed by our loved ones who listen to us every day and are sensitive to any distortions. It is worth making them aware of this aspect, as it can keep you all safe in the form of a reduced risk of infection.

A sore throat from COVID-19 takes many forms. Sometimes it is a slight, scratchy, dry mouth pain throughout the duration of the infection, but more often it is a burning pain that does not – as patients describe – forget about yourself, only slightly alleviated by home remedies for a sore throat, to a slightly greater extent by over-the-counter medications, such as lozenges and throat-moisturizing syrups.

1. See also: What about a sore throat? It all depends on the cause

“Spring” ailment

A scratchy throat or a sore throat may be the only symptoms of COVID-19. It is worth remembering especially in the transitional period (late winter / early spring), when the weather changes and the temperature fluctuations during the day are very large, which often causes ailments typical of a cold. Lighter clothing in combination with such “treacherous” weather can lead to a decrease in immunity, and then we become more susceptible to the effects of various types of pathogens, including the coronavirus.

The risk of infection will also be lower if we follow the basic sanitary and epidemiological rules: wearing masks in closed and / or full people spaces, disinfecting and washing hands and avoiding staying in crowded places. Remember that if you are in any doubt about your symptoms, or before meeting other people when you are not feeling well, you should perform a quick antigen test to confirm or rule out COVID-19.

1. Also read: Home tests for COVID-19. How to do them? What mistakes to avoid?

The editorial board recommends:

1. Pain in these two places could be an Omicron infection
2. How many COVID-19 sufferers lose their taste? New findings of scientists
3. Director of NIZP – PZH: at least 80 percent Poles have immunity to the coronavirus
4. Two Omikron sub-variants in Poland. How can they affect the fate of the epidemic?