Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, different strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have shown different symptoms. What made Covid particularly challenging for doctors to handle was the fact that it had a unique range of symptoms and affected different people differently. The severity also varied. While the Alpha and Delta variants (especially the latter) wreaked havoc, the emergence of the Omicron variant saw the symptoms become milder.
Top Symptoms of COVID-19
When the epidemic began (Alpha and Delta variants), fever, cough, loss of sense of smell and taste, and chest pain were some of the most common symptoms. While fever is a common symptom of many diseases, loss of sense of smell and taste especially at the onset was sure-shot covid in most cases. But after vaccination and the emergence of Omicron, the symptoms mostly mimicked typical flu symptoms — sore throat, runny nose, headache and fatigue.
Currently, according to several news reports, it is another symptom that has become most common for the coronavirus – myalgia, or muscle pain. According to the Zoe Covid Study app – which has been tracking Covid-19 symptoms since its inception – myalgia is now a top Covid symptom. Earlier it was believed to be an early symptom of coronavirus.
What is myalgia?
Myalgia is muscle pain and you may feel the sensation of a sore muscle, similar to what you feel after exercising after a long period of time. Reports say that inflammatory molecules released by immune cells in response to the virus cause muscle pain in COVID-19. With coronavirus, you may feel pain mainly in the shoulders and legs and it can be quite bothersome. Sometimes, it can be so bad that it affects your daily activities as well.
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News reports have quoted South African doctor Angelique Coetzee – who first detected the Omicron variant – as saying that myalgia is likely to affect those more acutely than those without vaccination. But those who have been vaccinated can also feel it. When Omicron emerged in 2021, myalgia was considered a major symptom.
Also read: Common cold or Covid-19? How to deal with virus in winter season
Meanwhile, India has recorded 188 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases have come down to 2,554, according to the Union Health Ministry’s data updated on Thursday (January 5, 2023). Earlier on Wednesday, the World Health Organization said data presented by China showed that the Omicron subvariants BA.5.2 and BF.7 are the dominant ones, accounting for 97.5 percent of all local infections.
(Disclaimer: The article is based on general information and is not a substitute for the advice of a medical expert. Zee News does not confirm the same.)