How are symptoms of new COVID-19 strains and variants different from original coronavirus?

KEY STORY

• The year 2020 taught us several new words or reacquainted us with words that we never imagined we would need to use every day – such as Quarantine, pandemic, social distancing, isolation etc – and 2012 has brought a new set – variants, mutants, strains.

• Amid cases of new variants of mutated SARS-CoV-2 emerging in India, it has become incumbent upon us to understand how their symptoms differ from the original COVID-19.

  

   

• We have heard that the UK variant or the Kent variant – B.1.1.7 – spreads easily and quicker than any other variant. Now, there have been reports of the double mutants strain identified in India to have been found in San Francisco’s Bay Area. Times Now spoke to Dr Gyan Bharti, Pulmonologist, Columbia Asia Hospital, Ghaziabad on the issue.

• Dr Gyan Bharti said, “According to the National Task Force for Covid-19, there are more than over 24,000 mutations in 7,000 variants of the SARS-CoV2 virus. All mutations or variants may not be transmissible or cause infection, and there is still no clarity on which strain causes which symptoms.

  “However, with newer strains in play, we are likely to see newer symptoms. The majority of patients have:

  1. a fever,

  2. pain in muscles,

  3. dry and persistent cough, and

  4. loss of smell and taste.

  But some may or may not experience these and have additional symptoms like:

  1. conjunctivitis,

  2. sore throat,

  3. headache,

  4. rashes,

  5. upset stomach, and

  6. discolouration of fingers and toes.

  “Having these symptoms in children may indicate a possible multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a potentially fatal COVID outcome,” Dr Gyan Bharti concluded.

  The best advice is if you see any of these symptoms, it’s best to quickly secure the wellness of the patient and isolate him or her from other members of the family. The next step would be to reach out to your doctor and get the requisite tests (prescribed by her/him) done. In the current times, quick recognition of symptoms and alert action can save lives and heartache.

  Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.