How Omicron Is Showing Flashes Of Delta

In Rare Severe Cases, Patients Experiencing High Fever, Low O2

- DurgeshNandan.Jha

New Delhi: The initial symptoms of Covid-19 caused by the Omicron variant may be different than those of the Delta variant responsible for last year’s infections. However, doctors say there aren’t too many differences in symptoms between the two variants in serious patients.

As in the second wave, doctors reported seeing patients rushing to hospitals with persistent and high fever, low oxygen saturation and raised inflammatory markers among the major symptoms. Peripheral ground glass opacity, the hallmark of serious lung damage caused by Covid during the second wave, is also being observed in some patients in the current wave.

On the brighter side, the doctors said, the percentage of serious patients was significantly lower than during the second wave. “We currently have 27 patients in the hospital, of whom eight are on oxygen support and one in ICU,” disclosed Dr Sumit Ray, head of critical care, Holy Family Hospital. He added that most of the hospitalised patients were either elderly or had co-morbidities.

Lok Nayak Hospital has more than 100 Covid patients in its ward as of now, according to the Delhi Corona App. Dr Suresh Kumar, medical director of the Delhi government-run hospital, told TOI that most patients had mild to moderate symptoms. “Very few patients have required ICU support this time,” said Kumar. “Our patients include people with low immunity, cancer patients and those suffering from chronic kidney diseases.”