There has been growing evidence that coronavirus causes more than respiratory symptoms, especially since the Omicron variant began spreading around the world in November last year.
With previous Covid variants, the three main symptoms have been a high temperature, new or persistent cough and loss or change in the sense of taste or smell.
However, symptoms have been quite different with Omicron which has been described as mild and more similar to a common cold.
As the list of Covid symptoms continues to grow, a recent report from Berlin has identified yet another lesser-known sign of infection.
What is new uncommon symptom of Omicron?
A new sign of Covid is fainting spells, according to a newspaper called Ärztezeitung.
Fainting is described as a temporary loss of consciousness and muscle control. However it's usually caused by low blood flow to the brain, Berlin doctors have found a link between Covid infection and fainting spells.
A 35-year-old visiting the emergency department in a Berlin hospital for recurrent fainting spells was found to have Covid, with infection triggering the fainting in this case.
The German newspaper reported that doctors saw "a clear connection" between Covid and the fainting spells. This was also not the first time fainting was reported as a symptom of the virus, according to doctors, with the symptom commonly appearing in long-Covid patients.
Research from Italy, Spain and Portugal further proved that from over 14,000 Covid patients, 4.2% reported fainting or the feeling of impending unconsciousness in the early stages of infection. .
What are the main symptoms of Omicron?
Symptoms of Omicron have been quite different from the three classic signs of Covid that most people are used to. The common signs of Omicron according to the ZOE Covid study are :
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Dry/scratchy throat
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Runny nose
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Sneezing
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Mild muscle aches
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Fatigue
Besides fainting, some of the more unusual signs of the variant include congestion, brain fog, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, nausea or vomiting. Some people have also reported experiencing symptoms like sleep paralysis and night sweats as well.
The CDC also warned that one symptom requires urgent medical attention, asking people to keep an eye out for pale, grey or blue-coloured skin, lips or nail beds, which could indicate low levels of oxygen in the blood.
People who are unvaccinated may also experience symptoms like headaches and sore muscles more intensely, according to Dr Anqelique Coetzee, who first raised the alarm on the new variant in southern Africa.
