People who have become infected with Omicron have reported an unusual symptom.
Many have reported sweating so much at night that their night-clothes and bedsheets become soaked.
Currently, the NHS lists three main symptoms of Covid-19, including a high temperature, continuous cough and loss of taste and smell, the Mirror reports.
Omicron remains the dominant mutant strain in the UK and it has seen people report a wide array of symptoms different to the Delta variant that came before it.
The NHS also asks people registering a positive test on the NHS app to list other symptoms such as sneezing, headaches, sore throat and fatigue.
Are night sweats a common Covid symptom?
A common reported set of symptoms associated with Covid are 'cold-like' symptoms - this includes night sweats.
NHS doctor Dr Amir Khan told ITV's Lorraine show that a growing number of people have reported the symptom since Omicron first emerged.
He added that the symptom wasn't regular sweats but "drenching night sweats where you might have to get up and change your clothes".
When the variant was first discovered in November, South African expert Dr Unben Pillat said: "We've seen a sharp increase in cases for the past 10 days. So far they have mostly been very mild cases, with patients having flu-like symptoms: dry coughs, fever, night sweats, a lot of body pains."
Meanwhile, the ZOE Covid study lists the following as the most common Omicron symptoms:
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Fatigue (mild or severe)
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
The NHS defines night sweats as "when you sweat so much that your night clothes and bedding are soaking wet, even though where you're sleeping is cool".
It also notes the following as the most common causes of night sweats:
- menopause symptoms ("hot flushes")
- anxiety
- medicines – some antidepressants, steroids and painkillers
- low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
- alcohol or drug use
- a harmless condition called hyperhidrosis that makes you sweat too much all the time
While night sweats alone are not a symptom of Covid, it is worth taking a test just to be sure.
If you are suffering from night sweats but tested negative for Covid and are concerned, you should contact your GP.
