A sneeze or cough two years ago wouldn't have been cause to concern. But now, even the mildest symptoms can make us wonder, "Do I have Covid?"We learned early on about the signs of infection during the pandemic. These include fatigue, loss of taste and smell and fever. What about a year later? Are symptoms changing with the Delta variant of the virus being the most prevalent in the United States at the moment?This question has very little data and is difficult to answer.The vast majority of patients hospitalized with Covid-19 are unvaccinated. This may make them more susceptible to severe symptoms such as trouble breathing or persistent pain or pressure in their chests. Unvaccinated children and young people are being sent to hospital more frequently in areas with lower vaccination rates like Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana. Researchers are not sure if this is due to the Delta virus or a surge in childhood infections that could lead to more hospitalizations.The Delta variant is almost twice as contagious than the previous variants, and nearly as contagious to chickenpox. The virus reproduces quickly in the body and can be found in large quantities in the nose and throat.
