Omicron infection: What are the symptoms?

With the current state of the world, you would definitely already heard of the latest Omicron variant of the Covid-19 Virus which has dominated news outlets for the past month.

Many have been terrified of contracting the virus as there have also been concerns that Omicron might circumvent the COVID-19 vaccine’s protection. In laboratory tests, Pfizer claims that three doses of their mRNA vaccine can neutralize Omicron, and that two doses can still prevent significant disease after infection with this version.

However, as the variant has continued to spread, it is important that we know what the symptoms are so that we can get tested and not contribute to the spread.

Some of the known symptoms of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 Virus listed by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, are fevers, chills, coughs, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle aches, body aches, headaches, loss of taste, loss of smell, sore throat, congested nose, runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The CDC warns, however, that this list isn’t complete, and that individuals may suffer various symptoms or combinations of symptoms. Anecdotal reports on social media and other platforms also indicate that Omicron infections are characterized by more precise combinations of symptoms. That said, should you exhibit any of the symptoms you should definitely get tested as soon as possible as studies are still being carried out on the virus.

In a recent study carried out by King’s College London and Health science company Zoe, Dubbed the Zoe Covid Study, the most common and frequently observed symptoms of the Omicron Variant were runny nose, headaches, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat. As there are fairly common ailments, those exhibiting these symptoms should be extra careful and get also tested just in case.

Testing for Omicron

As there have been some reports that existing Lateral Flow Tests have been ineffective at testing the presence of Omicron, some of us might be worried about how to go about detecting Omicron. One alternative would be to take a RT-PCR test, also known as a PCR test as it is available to detect low levels of virus. The RT-PCR works based on samples collected from the nose and throat of a person. These samples then undergo laboratory studies to determine whether SARS-CoV-2 specific genes are present. PCR tests are more sensitive and are thought to be more accurate in general.

How to treat mild Omicron

As not everything is understood about the Omicron variant yet, there are no existing non-prescribed medications to treat the virus. Therefore, in the event that you are exhibiting severe, you should seek immediate medical attention. The best remedies for a mild infection would be the same as the remedy for a flu or cold.