The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the first briefing on symptoms of the early cases of the Omicron variant with cough, fatigue, congestion, and runny nose as the top four symptoms. Meanwhile, a British doctor found out a new COVID-19 symptom linked to the Omicron variant: severe night sweats.
According to Dr. Amir Khan of the National Health Service in the UK, night sweats are “the kind of drenching night sweats where you might have to get up and change your clothes.”
Khan is of the opinion that health providers should emphasize these symptoms to patients so that they realize they will require a test if they encounter them, New York Times report.
Omicron is now more prevalent than Delta in the U.S., as COVID cases continue to rise. There is little solid information about Omicron since it is a new virus.
In part, the Delta mutation reduced vaccine protection against COVID-19 infection (and natural immunity) as a result of its mutation from the original virus.
The omicron form has since been linked to a major outbreak in Norway, which sheds some light on how it behaves in fully vaccinated populations.
Read More: Omicron Symptoms Emerge Faster Than Other Covid-19 Variants
A total of 111 of the 117 attendees of the party in Norway were interviewed. An mRNA vaccine was administered to 89% of the 111 people interviewed. There was no evidence that any of the 111 people questioned had received a booster shot. Sixty-six respondents had confirmed COVID-19, whereas another 15 had potential cases.
The illness of 91% of individuals with COVID-19 was further characterized by three symptoms or more over the course of their illness.
A night’s sweat is not something new. South African doctor, Dr. Angelique Coetzee, told Al Jazeera that the new variant of COVID-19 has symptoms that are “very, very mild” in comparison with the Delta variant.
The symptoms experienced by Omicron are similar to those experienced by people who are fully vaccinated and had contracted the original Coronavirus. One way the condition presents itself is with runny noses, sneezing, sore throats, and loss of smell.
According to Doctor Anthony Fauci, people who have contracted the Omicron have a “less requirement for oxygen.” But this does not mean the virus is less dangerous.