Coronavirus: Cold-like symptoms that could be a sign of Omicron in the body

As daily COVID-19 cases fall in the country, people have begun to breathe a sigh of relief. Many are returning back to their normal routines, while many others roam around freely without any precautionary measures. The revision of government protocols, lifting off of COVID restrictions and plummeting cases are all positive signs. However, we must understand that the pandemic is not yet over and new variants continue to emerge. The existing variants, especially the most recent Omicron variant, are still very much transmissible and one must be mindful of the most vulnerable in society.

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The Omicron variant, which was first discovered in South Africa, wreaked a lot of havoc in and around the world. It was declared as a 'variant of concern' by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to its multiple mutations and the ability to dodge vaccine-induced immunity.

The most relieving yet dangerous aspect about the variant is that it is mild and the associated symptoms resemble a common cold, a flu or a seasonal allergy. However, what makes it concerning is the fact that many dismiss it as a mild infection, refusing to test themselves, self-isolate and hence spreading it to many others, risking the lives of those who fall under high risk groups.

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That said, even if you have cold-like symptoms, you must get yourself tested, or self-isolate until the symptoms persist. This will only help curb the spread. According to the UK's ZOE symptoms study app, here are the symptoms that could indicate the presence of Omicron in the body.

A sore throat could mean anything - a common cold, a summer cold or a flu. But it could also mean COVID's Omicron. While the classic COVID-19 symptoms remain to be fever, persistent cough, loss of smell and taste and gastrointestinal symptoms, sore and scratchy throat is one of the leading symptoms of Omicron variant.

As is known, the Omicron variant and its sub lineages primarily impacts the upper respiratory tract, unlike the Delta, which is known to cause serious damage to the lower respiratory tract, which includes the lungs. This therefore leads to symptoms like sore throat and runny nose, as per the ZOE symptoms study app.

Several factors can trigger a headache and dizziness. However, having a headache is a potential symptom of Omicron too. As of now, headache is a symptom that has been reported both in the early and the later phase of a COVID infection. Earlier, a WHO report that analysed over 55,000 COVID positive cases found that a headache was reported in 13.6 percent of these cases.

A feeling of dullness, tiredness could be prevalent in people suffering from COVID's Omicron variant. Depending on the severity of your infection, your body ache and fatigue could last accordingly. Some fatigue may linger on for more than 2-3 weeks, suggesting long COVID, a post COVID condition.

Sneezing is a powerful and involuntary discharge of air that removes irritants from your nose and throat. As per experts at the ZOE symptoms app, sneezing is one of the top signs of Omicron. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you're only experiencing sneezing as a symptom, it is not a sign of COVID-19.