Scientists in South Africa have revealed that back pain could be one of the most common symptoms of the Omicron variant of Covid.
Research carried out on 78,000 cases in the country showed that the most reported symptoms of the new super-transmissible strain are linked to what is normally associated with a 'common cold'.
It has already been discovered by UK Covid experts that the Omicron strain displays different symptoms compared to other variants of the virus.
Unlike the Delta variant, which tends to show flu-like symptoms as well as a loss of smell or taste, the Omicron strain appears to cause symptoms far more similar to that of the common cold - including a scratchy throat, runny nose, sneezing and headache.
However doctors in South Africa now also claim to have uncovered a more unlikely symptom commonly associated with the new variant - back pain.
Ryan Noach, chief executive of South Africa's largest private health insurer, Discovery Health, said lower back pain has become a commonly reported symptom.
Doctors call the symptom myalgia which refers to muscle aches and pains.
