Are Delta variant symptoms different from regular COVID symptoms?
Symptoms of the Delta variant differ from regular coronavirus symptoms, making them difficult to detect unless tested for COVID-19. Doctors have noticed that not as many people with the Delta variant are experiencing the loss of taste and smell associated with the initial coronavirus strain. The starting symptoms someone might have with the Delta variant more commonly are runny and stuffy nose, sore throat, and headache. Those are those more vague symptoms that all kinds of stuff can cause, Dr. Joel Tumlison, an outbreak response physician for the Arkansas Department of Health, told KTHV. While the initial strain of the coronavirus did cause a sore throat, headache and stuffy nose, Tumlison said people with the Delta variant notice them earlier and easier than with other strains of COVID-19. Its easy to go Oh, its my allergies or oh, its just a little cold. It cant be coronavirus, Tumlison said, adding that his advice is for both unvaccinated and fully vaccinated people to get tested for symptoms even if they think it is nothing more than a common cold. The Delta COVID-19 variants symptoms differ slightly from the original virus. The variant, which initially originated in India, has a wide range of symptoms including:  Stomach pain  Sore throat  Headache  Stuffy nose  Loss of appetite  Vomiting  Nausea  Joint pain  Hearing loss  In most cases, patients with the variant are more likely to be hospitalized, suffer other complications, and require oxygen. Dr. Ganesh Manudhane, a cardiologist in Mumbai, India, told Bloomberg News that he has also seen patients with the Delta variant who have small blood clots. I saw three to four cases the whole of last year, and now its one patient a week, Manudhane told Bloomberg. Dr. Abdul Ghafur, an infectious disease specialist from India, told Bloomberg News that he has seen more patients with diarrhea with the Delta COVID strain than in the initial wave of the pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says you should get one of the three COVID-19 vaccines that are available to you  Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, or Pfizer  wear a mask, stay six feet apart from others, and wash your hands often using soap and water. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com  Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us at nj.com/tips.