Experts Warn of 5 COVID Symptoms That May Appear While Eating as ‘Quademic’ Concerns Rise
Credit: Newatlas
Health experts in the UK are urging people to stay vigilant for five specific COVID-19 symptoms that could appear while eating, as the country grapples with high levels of COVID-19, along with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), flu, and norovirus. This surge in illnesses has prompted concern over a potential “quademic” this winter.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a warning, noting, “We see cases of flu, RSV, COVID-19, and norovirus throughout the year, but in winter they circulate at the same time and can reach high levels.”
The agency also tracks other respiratory viruses, including rhinovirus, adenovirus, and human metapneumovirus, which can peak during the autumn and winter months, as reported by the Today Show online.
Amid these concerns, the UKHSA highlighted specific COVID-19 symptoms to watch out for, particularly while eating. These include:
- A sore throat
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Changes in sense of taste
- Changes in sense of smell
The agency acknowledged that while COVID-19 may not cause as “severe” an illness as it did during the early pandemic days, it still results in “severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths,” especially among those with weakened immune systems, pre-existing health conditions, and the elderly.
UKHSA explained, “It is normal and expected for viruses to genetically change over time and the new COVID-19 variants, much like previous variants, can spread easily through droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks.”
In addition to the above symptoms, COVID-19 may also be accompanied by fever, chills, a continuous cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, a congested nose, and diarrhoea. These symptoms could often resemble those of a cold, but the presence of additional signs such as fever may indicate a more serious illness.
To protect yourself, the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK recommends regular handwashing with soap and water, using hand sanitiser, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unclean hands.
Other strategies to reduce the risk of contracting COVID include maintaining social distancing, wearing a face covering, and meeting people outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.
The UKHSA also reminded the public of symptoms to look out for with other viruses circulating, including RSV and flu, and noted that norovirus symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and sometimes fever, headache, and aching limbs.
