Doctor warns of ‘unusual’ rashes in some children positive for Omicron variant

One London doctor has reported that young children infected with the new omicron variant of the coronavirus appear to be experiencing a strange symptom: rashes. Dr. David Lloyd he has seen about 15 percent of children with confirmed omicron cases with spots. 

Lloyd also said children experienced similar symptoms as adults who have the new variant, including fatigue, headaches, and loss of appetite. The doctor told another news source that any difference in symptoms is “quite important,” as is the development of a rash.

He suggested that cases are doubling rapidly from his observations, saying: “So let’s hope that it isn’t as deadly as the Delta and let’s hope that we can get on top of it. But it’s a concerning time. 

Dr. Lloyd also commented, “We’ve always had a small cohort of patients with Covid who are getting funny rashes, but up to 15 percent of the Omicron children are getting an unusual rash.” He added, “So we’re starting to learn a little bit more about the virus and we are starting to look out for it.”

Experts have also warned that Covid cases might be missed because people are not identifying the right symptoms. While the three canon Covid symptoms include persistent cough, fever, and a loss of taste or smell, many of those are not present in those experiencing the omicron variant, which is spreading rapidly in the U.K. South African medics, working in the region where the new variant was first identified, say the main symptoms are fatigue, body aches, and a headache.

Private practitioner and chair of the South African Medical Association Dr. Angelique Coetzee has said the patients she is treating are not reporting loss of taste and smell.