Coronavirus: The top 5 Omicron variant symptoms seen in children, as per a study

In comparison to the first wave of COVID-19, more kids were infected during the second wave which was caused by the Delta variant of coronavirus. The same trend is being witnessed at present as the Omicron variant is burgeoning to different parts of the world, leading to a surge in infection cases. Kids who were earlier considered only the carrier of the virus are now equally at the risk of developing severe symptoms and hospitalisation, particularly when there is underlying health complications. The cases in India might have gone down in the past week, but the COVID variant is here to stay for a while. That's what makes it vital to know about the common symptoms of this infection in kids.

Also See: How Omicron symptoms differ from Delta and previous COVID variants

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Also See: Coronavirus: How Omicron symptoms may vary in vaccinated vs. unvaccinated individuals

As per a Zoe COVID Symptom study, fatigue is the most common sign of coronavirus infection in kids, followed by headache, sore throat, runny nose and sneezing. The Zoe COVID study is a smartphone app developed during the pandemic to log how people across the UK felt daily when suffering from coronavirus. The app is used by both kids and adults to track the symptoms, based on which the researchers have prepared the list of the common Omicron symptoms. As per the data available from the app, the symptoms seen in adults were different from kids. It also revealed that, in adults, runny nose is the first sign, followed by headache, fatigue and sneezing.

Read more: 66% with Omicron have had COVID in the past, finds study

Apart from respiratory system related symptoms, the Omicron variant may also impact other organs of the body. It can lead to some uncommon symptoms like diarrhoea and rashes. However, it is rare and is witnessed in a small percentage of cases. The data collected during the study also suggest that in some cases kids may develop croup, a condition in which an airway infection leads to a dog barking sound while coughing. The study, however, did not include asymptomatic COVID-19 cases.

Since most of the kids in the UK have been vaccinated, the symptoms of the Omicron variant remained mild. After being infected with the omicron variant, kids developed mostly common cold-like symptoms, which did not stretch for longer or lead to any severe symptoms. The experts believe that the vaccination could not prevent coronavirus infection, but it was quite effective in reducing the severity. Besides, as compared to delta variant, more kids were affected by the omicron variant as it is more transmissible than other variants of the coronavirus.

Read more: Coronavirus: What is 'stealth' Omicron? Is it harder to track? Know all about this new sub-variant and what makes it so concerning

Now that vaccines are available for kids in India for the age group of 15 to 17 years, it is essential to get your kids vaccinated as soon as possible. Vaccination provides immunity against the virus and reduces the risk of severe infection. Apart from that, make sure your kids follow all the COVID norms like wearing masks all the time, maintaining proper hygiene and avoiding crowded places.