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Are the symptoms of the Covid-19 Delta variant different?

Sneezing and a runny nose are now two of the most common symptoms of Covid-19 in the UK, research has found

An increasing number of people with Covid-19 are reporting symptoms similar to a bad cold or even hay fever.

Despite this, the official government advice is to only get tested if you have a fever, continuous cough, or a change in smell/taste.

Is the Delta variant — the UK’s dominant strain of the coronavirus — affecting people differently? And should the classic list be updated?

On both counts, a growing number of experts believe yes but it’s not that simple.

Headache, runny nose, and sore throat

A major UK study named the ZOE Covid app has been collecting self-reported data from people with the virus since May this year.

Professor Tim Spector, co-founder of the app, says a headache is now the main symptom while a runny nose and sore throat make up the other two most people experience.

Surprisingly, he said a loss of taste/smell is no longer in the top 10 reported and that sneezing is now climbing the charts at number four.

To add to the confusion, hay fever is particularly bad this year and many are unsure which they are experiencing.

Virus expert Professor Hugh Pennington believes that the main list should be updated if the information coming in is now different.

“I don’t see why not”, he said.

“That would give a much more accurate reflection of what’s going on in the community.

“It makes sense to react to the information coming in.

“The problem is different people get different symptoms and part of that reason is age.”

Age rather than Delta variant could be main factor

Professor Pennington cautioned against assumptions the Delta variant itself is significantly different to previous mutations.

The Aberdeen University emeritus professor of bacteriology said it’s much more likely that the virus is affecting younger people in a different way.

He added: “Before vaccinations, you would see a lot more older people getting the virus and they would be more likely to experience pneumonia-style illness such as difficulty breathing.

“The virus in the past few weeks has mainly been circulating among people under 45 who may have received just one dose or none.

“I think it’s much more likely the different symptoms are down to the type of people being affected.

Professor Hugh Pennington

“I would be very surprised if the Delta variant was causing these different symptoms.”

He added: “One thing I would point out though is there is less emphasis on symptoms now because we know around 30-40% of people don’t have symptoms at all.”

Those checking symptoms through the NHS Scotland Inform website are asked if they have any of the classic symptoms as well as if they live with someone with those symptoms.

If none of the above apply, the self-help guide advises it’s not likely they have Covid-19 and they should not ask for an NHS PCR test.

No change to NHS guidance

The Scottish Government was asked whether the ‘main symptoms’ described by the NHS would be updated.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We understand people report different symptoms and we continue to keep the evidence on symptoms in relation to Covid under review.

“However, there has been no change at this time to the NHS Inform guidance on the main symptoms to look out for – a new, continuous cough, a high temperature or fever and a change in sense of smell or taste.”

“Around one in three people with Covid-19 do not show any symptoms and rapid lateral flow testing is already helping us identify new cases.

“Regular, rapid testing is already available to people in a wide range of settings, and everyone should access testing regularly.”

To share your symptoms with the ZOE study anonymously, download the app.