Doctors warn of unusual Omicron Covid symptom found in kids

Health experts say it’s important for parents to watch for an unusual symptom which seems to be more common in kids infected with Omicron.

Parents have been warned of an unusual Omicron symptom to look out for in their kids.

Young children appear to be getting rashes while infected with the new variant, a London doctor has reported.

Dr David Lloyd, a GP from north London, said he has seen about 15 per cent of youngsters with confirmed Omicron cases developing a hive-like or prickly-heat type rash.

They also suffered with fatigue, headaches and a loss of appetite – which seems to fit with the most common variant symptoms reported so far in adults, The Sun reports.

The health expert told Sky News the difference in symptoms was “quite important”, along with the rash.

A GP estimates 15 per cent of children with the Omicron variant have developed a spotty rash. Picture: Jack Guez/ AFP

The doctor added the suggestion cases are doubling quickly appeared to be right, from what he is seeing, adding: “So let’s hope that it isn’t as deadly as the Delta [strain] and let’s hope that we can get on top of it. But it’s a concerning time.”

He said: “We’ve always had a small cohort of patients with Covid who are getting funny rashes, but up to 15 per cent of the Omicron children are getting an unusual rash,” he said.

“So we’re starting to learn a little bit more about the virus and we are starting to look out for it.”

It comes after an expert warned Covid cases could be missed as people are looking for the wrong symptoms.

The three main symptoms of Covid-19 include a new persistent cough, a high temperature and a loss of taste and smell.

But healthcare experts say signs of the Omicron variant could be difficult to detect, as the main symptoms are different from those currently outlined.

In South Africa, where the Omicron variant was first detected, medical professionals have now said the main symptoms are fatigue, body aches and a headache.

Dr Angelique Coetzee, a private practitioner and chair of the South African Medical Association, said patients have not been reporting a loss of taste and smell.

Other experts have also warned the symptoms will differ.

The emergence of the Omicron variant has pushed authorities to fast-track vaccinations to kids. Picture: Norberto Duarte/ AFP.

In Australia, Victoria has recorded two new cases of the Omicron variant, bringing that state’s total to three. The new strain has also spread to Queensland after it was first detected in NSW, which currently has 42 cases of Omicron.

On Thursday night, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) gave the final tick of approval for children over five to receive the Pfizer jab, with the rollout set to commence in early January.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also said he would “strongly support” to bring the booster shots forward from their current six-month limit, however the decision ultimately requires confirmation from ATAGI,

However, efforts are still being made to fully understand the new variant, which has only been known about for two weeks.

Scientists think it could spread more easily and might be able to evade vaccines, but still need to carry out more tests.

This story originally appeared onThe Sun and was reproduced here with permission