Are itchy eyes a symptom of the Omicron covid-19 variant?

Even though covid-19 has been with us for two years, it is keeping us on our toes as the virus evolves. The Omicron variant is showing slightly different symptoms but in general they are the same as the variants that have come before.

If you are worried that you’ve be infected, knowing what to look for isn’t always straight forward. The symptoms for influenza, covid-19 and even allergies can sometimes be similar. If you experience potential symptoms of covid-19 the best bet is to get tested.

Also see:

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• Does Omicron affect your lungs?
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What are the symptoms of the Omicron variant of covid-19?

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists the follow as symptoms for covid-19:

Fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, new loss of taste or smell.

With the exception of the last symptom, new loss of taste or smell, they are similar to what you may feel if you’ve come down with the flu. The CDC says that this is not a complete list but they are the most common symptoms you may encounter. With the Omicron variant, the loss of taste and smell has been less common but is still happening.

The same ways that you can protect yourself from catching covid-19, social distancing, masking up and washing your hands after touching potentially contaminated surfaces, also help protect against getting the flu. As well, getting vaccinated against each disease can help prevent more serious illness associated with each.

Are itchy eyes a symptom of an Omicron covid-19 infection?

The World Health Organization does list red or irritated eyes as one of the possible symptoms of covid-19 infection, but as a less common symptom. However, it is more likely that you are experiencing itchy eyes from some other irritation.

Nevertheless, if you think that you may have come into contact with someone infected with covid-19 and are worried you may be infected, you should get tested. It is the only way to be sure.

The Biden administration announced that every household can get four free tests sent to them through a government the website covidtests.gov. A hotline, 1-800-232-0233, has been added to get the free at-home covid-19 tests. As well, starting on 15 January, the administration implemented a mandate that insurance companies reimburse plan holders for the costs of up to eight tests per member each month.

Reasons your eyes may be itchy

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Itchy eyes can be caused by a number of factors from allergies to eye strain because of too much screen time to driving among other reasons. In the case of the former it is recommended not to rub your eyes as it could make it worse. Furthermore it’s a good way to increase your chances of getting infected with an airborne disease such as covid-19 or the flu. As for the latter, if you let your eyes rest it should go away, but it could be the symptom of an underlying eye condition that needs treatment.

However, always talk to a medical professional before trying to self-diagnose or self-medicate. Either of which could make the problem worse.