Are rashes or headaches signs of COVID? Chicago's top Doctor Explains Current Symptoms (Click here to download). NBC Chicago

According to the most recent COVID update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention According to the latest COVID update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the BA.5 family of Omicron variant is the most widespread variant of COVID within the U.S., accounting for more than 88% of all recent cases.

Although Chicago has moved from an “high” amount of transmission of COVID in the past to “medium,” COVID cases remain prevalent throughout the state and city. In fact the doctor. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health declared in an Facebook Live update Tuesday that the BA.5 variant “is the most infectious variant” of COVID as of.

With more cases occurring there is a lot of curiosity about the typical symptoms that are seen when COVID is diagnosed, as well as if they have any specific signs, such as rashes, or headaches due to various variants , particularly BA.5.

“We’re still analyzing the situation,” Arwady said in the update. “In the more recent instances of COVID -which, as I mentioned are the latest versions — there are some things I’ve noticed. The most important one is that patients are less likely to become seriously sick. This implies our immune system can be more effective at being able to guard against serious disease.”

As for what signs the city is experiencing more of in the course of cases, Arwady noted that the virus is mostly affecting your upper respiratory tract.

“We’re experiencing a lot the symptoms: fatigue, sore throats and experiencing some fevers, and a runny nose,” Arwady said. Arwady added that although it is possible to have rash or headache as signs of COVID but neither is “one of the top symptoms.”

Even though Arwady stated that she believes the Chicago Department of Health isn’t always seeing new signs and symptoms being reported but the department is seeing COVID symptoms that are linked to earlier variants and appear to be less prevalent.

“We’re not seeing as much loss of smell and taste than we did earlier However, we can still detect certain signs of it,” Arwady said.

“As you continue to manifest as a cold or as a flu there is method to tell whether it’s COVID or another ailment without an exam.”

What are the symptoms that are often for the longest? A cough.

“That’s the one that’s likely to last for the longest time most of the time,” according to Arwady. “A cough is usually the longest lasting result. It’s the case whenever you suffer from any type of viral infection. It’s possible to feel completely better, but you’re experiencing some irritation.”

Based on Johns Hopkins Medicine, early symptoms of COVID generally include headache, fatigue and sore throat, or fever.

Researchers of the University of Southern California found that fever could be the first sign along with an ache in the muscles and cough. In the next few days, people who are infected may suffer from nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. In contrast to other respiratory diseases like MERS and SARS COVID sufferers will most likely experience nausea and vomiting prior to diarrhea, as the researchers discovered.

In some cases, could be the first indication an individual has contracted COVID. The symptoms are known to appear at the start of an infection, and respiratory symptoms that may develop one day later in a report by Emerson Health.

Yet, certain signs like breathlessness are becoming less common because the disease continues to change.

“In regards to symptoms as well as the kind of issues patients experience, it’s been very diverse,” said Dr. Sharon Welbel, the director of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control for Cook County Health. “I have found that with omicron, we do know that the most commonly reported symptoms are cough, fever, but and not as much shortness of breath .”

The experts do warn people that the intensity or even the nature of the initial symptoms may differ widely from one person to another.

“I believe it’s actually variable with respect to individual,” Welbel said. “It is influenced by age, it varies based on co-morbid illnesses, it’s dependent on vaccination status, and when someone is infected, their immune system is pumped higher… This is why I believe there is no way to prevent the body from it and predict it.”

The CDC declares that the median duration for the onset of symptoms in patients with different Omicron lineages can be as little as three days.

In general, the symptoms generally show up between two and fourteen days following contact with the disease as per the CDC. How long they last but it is dependent on the individual who is suffering, how severe their illness and whether or not will end up with a long-lasting COVID.

“Some people report feeling better after a few days but some claim to have persistent issues after three weeks.” Welbel said.

The symptoms of the virus include:

Chills or fever

-Cough

A shortness of breath

-Fatigue

Muscle or body aches

-Headache

New loss of smell or taste

-Sore throat

Congestion or runny nose

-Nausea or vomiting

-Diarrhea

Patients are advised to seek medical emergency attention in the event of:

Trouble breathing

A persistent tension or chest discomfort

New confusion

Inability to stay awake

Gray, pale or blue-colored skin lips or nail beds