COVID-19 new symptoms: These 3 could be early indicators of coronavirus

There was some variation in symptoms depending on age, but chills were associated with Covid-19 across all age groups, said the study.

By: Satata Karmakar | | Published: February 12, 2021 10:31 am

Covid-19: These 3 new symptoms of coronavirus could be early indicators

A study of over a million people in England has revealed additional symptoms linked with having novel coronavirus (Covid-19), which could include chills, loss of appetite, headache and muscle ache. Also Read - New highly contagious COVID-19 variant spreading rapidly across New York

Based on a survey of more than 1 million people between June 2020 and January 2021, the study said the new symptoms were in addition to the “classic” symptoms of the virus which are already included in the National Health Service (NHS) guidance, such as fever, new persistent cough, loss of sense of smell and taste. Also Read - COVID-19 cases rising in schools across India, over 220 students test positive in 24 hrs

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“These new findings suggest many people with COVID-19 won’t be getting tested – and therefore won’t be self-isolating – because their symptoms don’t match those used in current public health guidance to help identify infected people,” said Professor Paul Elliott, director of the REACT programme at Imperial. Also Read - Is it safe to travel if you have got the COVID-19 vaccine? Here's what experts say

“We understand that there is a need for clear testing criteria, and that including lots of symptoms which are commonly found in other illnesses like seasonal flu could risk people self-isolating unnecessarily. I hope that our findings on the most informative symptoms mean that the testing programme can take advantage of the most up-to-date evidence, helping to identify more infected people,” he said.

According to the study authors, having any of these new Covid-19 symptoms or the classic ones, either alone or in combination, was associated with infection with the coronavirus and the more symptoms people showed the more likely they were to test positive.

Variations In Covid-19 Symptoms With Age

The study also found that there was variation in symptoms with age.

1. While chills were linked with testing positive across all ages, headaches were reported in young people aged 5-17

2. Appetite loss was noticed among the age group of 18-54 and 55+, and

3. Muscle aches in people aged 18-54.

Infected 5-17-year-olds were also less likely to report fever, persistent cough and appetite loss compared with adults.

UK Variant Of Coronavirus Can Have Various Symptoms

The research also explored whether the emergence of the UK’s new coronavirus variant, first identified in Kent, was linked with a different profile of symptoms. While symptoms were broadly similar, in January this year compared to November-December 2020, loss or change to a sense of smell was less predictive of having COVID-19, while the proportion of people testing positive with a new persistent cough appeared to be increased.

“As the epidemic progresses and new variants emerge, it’s essential that we keep monitoring how the virus affects people so that testing programmes meet changing needs,” said Dr Joshua Elliott, from Imperial College London’s School of Public Health.

“We hope that our data will help inform testing guidance and the development of systems which could help better identify people who should take a COVID-19 test based on their symptoms,” he said.

Take Test Even If You Have ‘ONE’ Of The Symptoms

People in England are currently encouraged to take a COVID-19 test if they have at least one of the four classic symptoms: loss of sense of taste, loss of sense of smell, fever, new persistent cough. This is called “Pillar 2 testing”.

Based on the new REACT study findings, the researchers estimate that current Pillar 2 testing would pick up around half of all symptomatic infections if everyone eligible were tested. But if the additional symptoms were included, this could be improved to three-quarters of symptomatic infections.

The findings, released as a pre-print report ahead of being peer-reviewed, are part of the REACT-1 ongoing stream of analysis, led by Imperial College London and carried out in partnership with Ipsos MORI. The Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission programme is funded by the government’s Department of Health and Social Care.

Published : February 12, 2021 10:31 am

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