Covid XEC symptom 'severely impacts' daily functioning as cases soar

The new XEC variant of coronavirus has been found to have a very particular set of symptoms, with one of the most common being a severe fatigue that 'severely impacts' daily functioning

A stark warning has come from healthcare experts as the new Covid XEC variant sees rising numbers within the UK, bringing with it debilitating symptoms. Dr Snieguole Geige from the It's Me and You Clinic highlighted "insistent and persistent fatigue" as the primary concern for those affected by the strain, stating that it seriously hinders patients' daily activities.

Shedding light on the severity of this fatigue, Dr Geige said: "From my clinical perspective, the most common symptom we’re observing is an intense and persistent fatigue that seems to linger longer than with previous variants."

She elaborated on the gravity of the exhaustion tied to this variant, adding: "This isn’t just the typical tiredness; patients report an overwhelming sense of exhaustion, often likened to post-viral fatigue syndrome. This can severely impact daily functioning, even after other symptoms subside."

On the subject of symptoms, Dr Geige emphasised the dire potential for people to encounter sudden and grave respiratory distress, even if their initial symptoms seem mild to moderate. She articulated: "The most serious symptom, however, is the potential for sudden, acute respiratory failure in individuals who may have previously only experienced mild to moderate symptoms."

Highlighting why XEC can become particularly perilous, Dr Geige underscored how quickly patients' health could decline: "Patients can deteriorate quickly."

Besides, she raised concerns about the unpredictability of XEC's progression, saying: "Someone can appear to be recovering and suddenly face a rapid decline, often due to microvascular complications in the lungs, leading to severe oxygen deprivation."

Dr Geige is not alone in his concern over the Covid XEC variant, although there's no immediate cause for alarm. Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, a consultant epidemiologist at the United Kingdom Health Security Agency, reassured Sky viewers: "Current information doesn't suggest we should be more concerned about this variant but we are monitoring this closely."

Clinicians are intrigued by the apparent symptom sequence of XEC, which typically starts with a fever, followed by coughing, then a sore throat, muscle pain or headache, and ends with nausea or vomiting and diarrhoea.

In a chat with SurreyLive, Joseph Larsen, a doctoral candidate at USC Dornsife, highlighted the benefit of understanding each illness's progression: "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."

Who is most at risk?

The XEC strain can deliver similar symptoms to the common cold or flu, including:

• High temperature
• Aches
• A cough or sore throat

Who is most at risk?

The NHS says three sets of people are eligible for an Covid booster vaccine between October 3 and December 20:

• People over-65
• People aged between six months and 64 years with health conditions that make them more susceptible to catching the illness, including pregnant women
• People living in care homes for older people
• NHS and social care workers on the frontline, including working in care homes for older people