XEC symptoms show up in a specific order

Surveillance by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that the new XEC variant now accounts for around one in ten cases.

The variant, which has also been detected US, Denmark and other countries, is a recombinant of two Omicron strains, KS.1.1 and KP.3.3.

There’s currently no signs the strain results in a more serious illness but health authorities are closely monitoring its spread

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There are currently no signs the strain results in a more serious illness but health authorities are closely monitoring its spread and studying its characteristics.

The symptoms also appear to be the same as previous strains.

A 2020 study from the University of Southern California (USC) shed light on how COVID-19 symptoms present, which may help individuals recognise whether their cough is just a cough or something worse.

The researchers determined that COVID-19 symptoms often start in the following order:

Fever
Cough
Sore throat, muscle pain, or headache
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhoea

“The study found that patients with seasonal flu more commonly developed a cough before the onset of fever,” Robert Glatter, MD, assistant professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Emergency Medicine, told Healthline in an earlier interview.

“In reality, this may be difficult to discern since the flu often begins abruptly with a triad of symptoms, including back pain, chills, along with a dry cough.”

According to the study, while influenza typically begins with a cough or muscle pain, the first symptom of COVID-19 is fever.

To predict the order of symptoms, researchers analyzed rates of symptom incidence collected by the World Health Organization (WHO) for more than 55,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in China.

To compare the order of COVID-19 symptoms to influenza, the researchers analysed data from more than 2,000 influenza cases in North America, Europe, and the Southern Hemisphere reported to health authorities between 1994 and 1998.

“The order of the symptoms matters,” said Joseph Larsen, lead study author and USC Dornsife doctoral candidate.

“Knowing that each illness progresses differently means that doctors can identify sooner whether someone likely has COVID-19, or another illness, which can help them make better treatment decisions.”

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People typically present with fever at first, research suggests

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Study author Peter Kuhn, professor of medicine, biomedical engineering, aerospace and mechanical engineering, and urology at USC, echoes this.

“This order is especially important to know when we have overlapping cycles of illnesses like the flu that coincide with infections of COVID-19,” he told Healthline in an earlier interview.

It comes as the UKHSA reports an increase in infections, particularly among the elderly population.

Hospitalisations have jumped to 4.55 per 100,000, up from 3.72 per 100,000 in the previous week.

The North East is experiencing the highest hospital admission rates at 8.12 per 100,000, whilst those aged 85 and older face an alarming surge, reaching 52.48 per 100,000.

Doctor Jamie Lopez Bernal, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “Covid-19 is continuing to circulate, with a slight increase in hospitalisations over the past two weeks.

“As winter approaches, we expect flu and RSV to increasingly circulate too, so if you’re eligible to get vaccinated against the three main winter threats – Covid-19, flu and RSV – now is the time to take them up and get winter strong.”

“We understand people may be concerned about new variants. Our surveillance shows that where Covid cases are sequenced, around one in 10 are the ‘XEC’ lineage.

“Current information doesn’t suggest we should be more concerned about this variant, but we are monitoring this closely.

“The most important thing to do is to get your vaccination as soon as possible if you’re eligible.”

All adults aged 65 and over are able to receive both the latest Covid-19 booster vaccination and this year’s flu jab, along with residents in older adult care homes and people with underlying health conditions aged six months to 64 years.

Both vaccinations are also being offered to frontline health and social care staff, with employees in older adult care homes eligible for the Covid-19 jab.

The NHS is also offering for the first time a vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common cause of coughs and colds, which can be dangerous to older people and young children.

The jab is available to people aged 75 to 79 as well as pregnant women from 28 weeks, to protect their child.

Doctor Conall Watson, of the UKHSA, said: “We are starting to see the expected seasonal rise in RSV, a common lung virus which can cause pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis.

“RSV lung infections like bronchiolitis are a major cause of babies needing to visit A&E or be admitted to hospital each winter.

“The RSV vaccine for pregnant mums is an important step in keeping babies well through winter.

“If your baby has a cold that is getting worse, or it is causing unusual breathing or problems feeding, call NHS 111 or contact your GP practice. As a parent trust your judgement and if your baby seems seriously unwell go to A&E or call 999.”