A major new study has confirmed that COVID patients with the Omicron variant tend have different symptoms to those with Delta – and are sick for a shorter period of time.

The Lancet study confirms that, while Omicron is much more transmissible than previous variants, it is also less severe, at least among people who are vaccinated.

By examining the symptoms reported by thousands COVID patients in the UK through the ZOE COVID app the researchers also uncovered the difference in symptoms between the two variants.

So how can you tell whether you had Delta or Omicron? The main difference lies in three symptoms.

• Loss of taste or smell was significantly less common among Omicron patients (16.7%) than Delta (52.7%).
• Sore throat was much more common among Omicron (71%) patients than Delta (63.4%).
• A hoarse voice was also more common among Omicron (42.8%) than Delta (39.6%)

The difference in prevalence of symptoms between Omicron and Delta/ Image: Lancet

In all, 12 of the 32 symptoms assessed were “significantly less prevalent” among Omicron patients than Delta patients.

• Runny nose: Reported by 81.6% of Delta patients and 76.5% of Omicron patients.
• Sneezing: Reported by: 69.8% of Delta patients and 61.3% of Omicron patients.
• Headache: Reported 79.7% of Delta patients and 68.2% of Omicron patients.
• Loss of smell: Reported by 52·7% of Delta patients but just 16·7% of Omicron patients.
• Fever: Reported by 44.1% of Delta patients and 26.7% of Omicron patients.
• Altered smell: Reported 41.9% of Delta patients but just 22.3% of Omicron patients.
• Dizzy/Light-headed: Reported by 39.6% of Delta patients and 35.8% of Omicron patients.
• Brain fog: Reported by 33.6% of Delta patients and 24.2% of Omicron patients.
• Eye soreness: Reported by 30.6% of Delta patients and 27.7% of Omicron patients.
• Ear ringing: reported by 20.7% of Delta patients and 17% of Omicron patients.
• Hair loss: Reported by 2.1% of Delta patients and 0.9% of Omicron patients.
• Blisters on feet: reported by 1% of Delta patients and 0.5% of Omicron patients.

Meanwhile, two were found to be “significantly more likely to be present” among Omicron patients.

• Sore throat: Reported by 63.4% of Delta patients and 71% of Omicron patients.
• Hoarse voice: Reported by 39.6% of Delta patients and 42.8% of Omicron patients.

The adjusted odds ratio of symptoms between Omicron and Delta/ Image: Lancet

The researchers also found that Omicron patients experienced symptoms for an average of 6.9 days while delta patients were sick for to days longer at 8.9 days.

Meanwhile, Omicron patients were 25% less likely to end up in hospital.