A new study by Discovery Health, South Africa’s largest health insurer, has provided new data about the symptoms of Omicron and the rate of vaccine breakthrough.
Ryan Noach, chief executive of the company said lower back pain was being reported as a frequent symptom.
Omicron has been reported to cause muscle aches and pains more broadly, known as myalgia.
It was these distinctive symptoms that first led to the investigation of Omicron as a potential variant.
Muscle pain isn’t a symptom unique to Covid, but it has not been frequently identified in previous variants of the COVID-19 virus.
A report from the WHO (World Health Organisation) on the initial wave in China identified it as a symptom in less than 15 percent of cases.
It is a common symptom of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and Lyme disease.
Myalgia can also be caused by overexertion or injury.
The mechanism by which COVID-19 causes muscle pain is not understood at this time.
It could be the result of inflammatory chemicals produced by the virus or immune response.
Muscle pain has also been reported as a side effect following vaccination, often in the area of the injection.
If you suffer from muscle pains that do not appear to result from an injury you should take a Covid test.
Preventative measures have seen effectiveness against all variants of the Coronavirus.
This includes minimising contact, frequent hand washing and wearing masks when in public.
Vaccines significantly reduce your risk of being hospitalised by the Omicron variant.
Regular testing and warning recent contacts can allow you to avoid spreading it to other people.
Source: | This article first appeared on Express.co.uk
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