COVID symptoms in different age groups

Researchers have analyzed data and report that the most common early symptoms include: loss of smell, chest pain, persistent cough, abdominal pain, blisters on the feet, eye soreness and unusual muscle pain. Fever may be present in later disease.

There are possible differences in symptoms with different variants. They may be less likely to cause loss of smell and a cough, and more likely to cause a headache, sore throat, runny nose and fever. Research continues to evolve on this front.

Evidence from early COVID infection has shown that the over-60s were less likely to report changes to their sense of taste or smell, but diarrhea was a commonly reported symptom.

For those over 80, diarrhea, a sore throat, chest pain, unusual muscle pain and chills or shivers were more likely early on.

Eye pain was common in all age groups, but those aged 16 to 39 were more likely to complain of loss of smell, chest pain, shortness of breath and abdominal pain in the first 3 days.

Men were more likely to report shortness of breath, fatigue, chills and fever in the first 3 days of symptoms. Women, on the other hand, were more likely to suffer loss of smell, chest pain and a persistent cough.

Those who are fully vaccinated had different symptoms to those not yet vaccinated. Vaccination was protective so people suffered fewer symptoms and they were milder. The top five most reported symptoms were: headache, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and loss of taste or smell. Fever and shortness of breath were far down the list, as was a persistent cough, compared to those who were unvaccinated or had only received one injection, where these symptoms were more common.

• Information correct on 7 March 2023