Back pain could be one of the most common symptoms of the omicron variant, according to scientists in South Africa
Research carried out on 78,000 cases in the country showed signs alongside those usually linked to 'common cold'.
It has already been revealed by experts in the UK that Omicron displays different symptoms compared to other variants of the virus.
These tend to cause flu-like symptoms, such as a fever persistent cough and changes in sense of taste or smell, reports Wales Online.
Read more: Your Omicron questions answered by Greater Manchester's health leaders
But the Omicron variant appears to cause symptoms similar to the common cold, including a scratchy throat, runny nose, sneezing and headache.
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.
Research conducted by Discovery Health examined the 78,000 cases in South Africa.
Currently, there are over 10,000 cases of the Omicron variant confirmed in the UK with 9,243 in England alone.
It comes after the government announced earlier in the week that it plans to offer every adult a booster jab of the Covid-19 vaccine to help curb the spread of the new variant.
