Covid-19: Night Sweats Could Mean You Have Omicron

Having first swept across the UK at Christmas, the omicron variant of covid-19 is one of the most common strains in the country.

Mercifully thought to be less severe than other strains of coronavirus, omicron can present itself in a number of different ways which are vastly varied compared to the traditional covid symptoms we’re all familiar with.

And one of the newer symptoms we’re been urged to look out for are night sweats.

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While it’s pretty standard to wake up feeling slightly sweaty if you’ve got thick bed sheets, it’s when you wake up feeling completely sodden that should be considered a warning sign.

Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, NHS Dr Amir Khan said omicron-related night sweats are the sort where “you might have to get up and change your clothes.”

So, why does omicron cause night sweats?

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"As your body fights off illness and infections, you’ll find yourself sweating more than normal," Giulia Guerrini, lead pharmacist at digital pharmacy www.medino.com, tells Tyla. "That’s why covid-19 and the omicron variant can cause night sweats.

"As you’re resting and sleeping, your body is working away to try and fight off the virus, resulting in visible and uncomfortable night sweating.

"Also, as covid-19 can cause fever, your body will naturally try and cool down by sweating. After taking paracetamol, your body may also start sweating to bring down your body temperature – a sign that you might be slowly recovering."

If you find yourself struggling with night sweats, there are some ways to ease that uncomfortable 'drenched' feeling.

"One of the simplest ways of easing night sweat symptoms is to leave your bedroom window open as you’re sleeping and make sure that you have a constant stream of airflow to allow your body to cool down," Guerrini explains.

"I’d also recommend drinking plenty of water throughout the day and taking rehydration sachets to replenish the lost electrolytes."

While the omicron variant is still being studied, research indicates that the illness presents more cold-like symptoms than previous covid variants.

The Zoe Covid study have said the following symptoms are most associated with omicron, with people urged to take a lateral flow test if they present any of the following: runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, and a sore throat.

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In other health news, some people who have tested positive for the omicron variant have found they also are suffering from earache.

You can read more about that here.

Topics: Health, Covid-19, Coronavirus

Kimberley Bond

Kim is a journalist at Tyla, and has previously worked at the Evening Standard, Radio Times as well as several national newspapers. A showbiz obsessive and a television fanatic, Kim is particularly interested in celebrity gossip, A-list events and the latest releases on either the big or small screen. Contact her at [email protected]

@0xKimberley