Since the start of the pandemic people have been wary if they develop a cough, high temperature and shortness of breath. Many also experience a change in their sense of taste and smell, among other symptoms. And over the last two the list of official symptoms has grown as the virus mutates.
According to health body VaccinesWork, one in five people with the Omicron strain are experiencing back pain.
It explains: “Back pain is now one of the key symptoms of Omicron, one of the main SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating.
“Data from South Africa where the variant was first identified suggested that people who get Omicron often develop two sets of symptoms – a sore throat, nasal congestion, and a cough – and also muscle pain, especially low back pain.
“This back pain has been described by some as intense period cramps, kidney stones or muscle spasms.”
But it is “important” to note “that having back pain alone doesn’t mean you necessarily have COVID-19”, it adds.
“However, as back ache can be caused by many factors, and even if you develop it in conjunction with nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing or fever, muscle ache can be indicative of other illnesses like flu.”
Previously back pain had not been known as a common Covid symptom.
Now it ranks as one of the top 20 symptoms via the Zoe Covid Symptom Study, in which hundreds of thousands of people log their symptoms every day across the UK.
