The 6 stealth symptoms of Omicron that might be missed by lateral flow tests
OMICRON is now the dominant strain in the UK and people are still becoming infected with the Covid variant.
This variant is milder and most people catching the bug will experience cold-like symptoms.
But some people have also found they have developed signs related to the gut.
It's because of this that some people aren't taking lateral flow tests - and instead putting their symptoms down to a tummy bug.
Taking tests is one of the best ways we can help continue to keep everyone safe from coronavirus.
It's important that if you're feeling a bit under the weather then you take a test - so that you don't pass the bug on to anyone else.
Professor Tim Spector, from the ZOE Covid Symptom Study, told the Sun Online the variant could be settling in the gut rather than the nose.
This means, when people are infected and experiencing gut symptoms like an upset stomach they will test negative - as there won't be traces of Omicron in the nose or mouth.
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The expert explained: "We know that the virus tries to enter the mouth or nose, and shows up in the respiratory system or the lungs.
"And it sometimes goes into the gut and people who have long Covid - they've found traces of the virus in the gut that can last a long time.
"We know that this virus travels to different parts of the body. It's possible that Omicron or another variant is attacking the gut.
"And this would not be showing in the nose - so you could have a gut infection but not show up as positive.
"We could be missing quite a few cases simply by swabbing the nose."
Here are the six symptoms you need to be on the look out for:
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Heartburn
- Bloating
These vary from the three main symptoms of coronavirus set out by the NHS which have not changed since Covid reached our shores in March 2020.
US medic, Dr Bill Admire said most people who caught the Delta variant would suffer some form of respiratory issue - with upper respiratory issues being the key factor.
"But with Omicron, patients with gastrointestinal problems are flaring up and having more symptoms", he said.
Speaking to he said that there are several related symptoms that could show up.
Dr Admire said that nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, loss of appetite and diarrhoea could all be signs of Covid.
The ONS states that the least commonly reported symptoms have consistently been abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and nausea or vomiting.
Experts have however said that while nausea or vomiting might not be key signs of the virus, they could sit along side other symptoms.
Studies have shown that people who have Covid-19 can sometimes experience gastrointestinal symptoms.
Published in the , experts found that that nausea and vomiting were two of the most common symptoms that sat beside other key Covid symptoms such as a sore throat or loss of taste and smell.
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The study suggests that issues like diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting could be triggered by the Covid infection.
The reason people are sick, they suggest, is due to the body's inflammatory response to the virus infection.
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