As people build immunity to SARS-CoV-2 through vaccines, boosters and infections, the most commonly reported symptoms of COVID-19 have shifted, making the deadly pandemic infection more difficult for many people to distinguish from standard cold-weather viruses.
That’s according to recent research data collected in the ZOE COVID study, an app-based study with more than 4 million users that was set up by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, King’s College London and health science company ZOE.
Since the emergence of COVID-19, the most common symptoms that top the standard lists are fever, chills, a persistent cough, and shortness of breath. As the virus spread across the planet, loss of taste and smell were also reported as telltale signs. But today, those symptoms are almost completely absent from the top five.
According to new research data collected in recent weeks amid the spread of omicron subvariants, the top five symptoms of breakthrough infection for those who have been fully vaccinated are (in order): sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, persistent cough, and headache. Only persistent cough remains in the original list of top symptoms, but it is the fourth most common symptom. A loss of smell came in as the sixth most common symptom and fever remained at number eight. Shortness of breath ranks 29th.
For those who have not been vaccinated or who have received only one vaccine dose, the top five symptoms are similar to those seen in fully vaccinated individuals. However, in both the unvaccinated and partially vaccinated groups, headache emerged as the most common symptom. Partially vaccinated people reported more sneezing (their fourth most common symptom), and the unvaccinated still listed fever as a common symptom. The data did not include information on how often survey respondents were infected with SARS-CoV-2.
The study authors suggest several reasons why symptoms have shifted to milder upper respiratory symptoms. The most obvious is that immune protection from previous vaccination and infection largely protects against serious illness. They also note that respondents who have become ill in recent weeks tend to be younger, for example with the return to school, and that younger people tend to have less severe symptoms.
But the authors noted concerns that sneezing has risen in the ranks of COVID-19 symptoms, making it the top five for the partially vaccinated individuals. Sneezing – just like coughing – is a very effective way to spread SARS-CoV-2. The authors caution that people should exercise caution and get tested if they suddenly experience sneezing fits.
