What Are The Symptoms of Omicron?

I've had the urge to take an at-home COVID test every day this week.

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By Stephanie Cornwell, Editorial Assistant I've had the urge to take an at-home COVID test every day this week. As much fun as the anxious 15-minute wait for the result is, I need to be stopped. I just have a cold. Today's Top Story Are Omicron Symptoms Different? If you're anything like me, it may scare you that Omicron symptoms mimic those of the flu or common cold. Every time I sneeze, a small part of me panics. But this is good news.   While our understanding of Omicron is evolving, research shows that it's less severe than earlier variants, like Delta. The symptoms of Omicron seem to stay in the upper respiratory tract and include sore throat, congestion, runny nose, and headache. Sneezing, fever, fatigue, and occasional nausea and diarrhea have also been reported.   Overall, Omicron is milder in both vaccinated and unvaccinated people. It is also more transmissible. This means that people are at a higher risk of reinfection. You should get tested if you're not feeling well. Know More We are still unsure about lingering symptoms or long COVID with the Omicron variant. However, the data shows that people who were vaccinated and got infected with a previous variant of the virus had a much lower risk of long COVID than unvaccinated people who got infected. Feel Better Precautions are helping. About 90% of people hospitalized are unvaccinated, meaning that booster shots, flu shots, masking, and getting tested remain essential. READ MORE Can You Apply for Disability With an At-home Rapid COVID-19 Test? To qualify for Social Security disability benefits for COVID, you are required to prove that your condition has impaired you from working for at least 12 months. At-home rapid tests may not be enough to qualify under SSA guidelines. People experiencing long COVID should get an in-person PCR test and contact their healthcare provider to attend a clinic that treats long COVID. READ MORE If Your Toddler Has a New Food Aversion, It Might Be COVID A recent study found that acute food aversion in preverbal kids could be an early sign of COVID. The study looked at two small children who, after contracting COVID could not eat solid foods. If you notice your kids developing food aversions, contact your pediatrician. READ MORE     In an interview with Verywell, professor Hilary Babcock, MD, says that while she understands the social fatigue with the pandemic, it's important to be cautious. Wearing a mask is not really that hard; getting a vaccine and getting a booster is, for most people now, fairly accessible. Taking those steps will really help. Hilary Babcock, MD, Professor of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis   In Other News   ■ Is It Bad to Take So Many Pictures of My Kids? The New York Times     ■ Why Making Friends in Midlife Is So Hard. The Atlantic     ■ Israeli Scientists Have Trained Goldfish to Drive. NPR More From Verywell Nurse Unions Call the CDC's New Isolation Guidance 'Unconscionable' READ MORE The Benefits of Art Therapy READ MORE Would a Service Dog Help Your Anxiety? READ MORE   How'd we do? If you have any feedback, send us a note at   feedback@verywell.com.       You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Verywell Health newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.   A DOTDASH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005   © 2022 verywellhealth.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy