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Can you have Covid without a fever?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Jan 1, 2024.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Yes, you can have Covid (coronavirus) without a fever or with a very low-grade fever that is hardly noticeable, particularly with the Omicron variant. It is also possible to have Covid-19 with no symptoms at all and the only way you would know this is if you took a Covid-19 test. People infected with the coronavirus who have no symptoms can still spread COVID-19 to others.

Fever is less common in people infected with the Omicron variant of Covid-19 compared to previous variants, such as Delta. The most common symptoms of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 are a runny nose, sore throat, nasal congestion, fatigue, and aches and pains. The cough is usually also milder than with previous variants and may not be present at all.

References
  • Coronavirus Symptoms: Frequently Asked Questions. John Hopkins Medicine. 2021. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-symptoms-frequently-asked-questions
  • Doucleff M and Stone W. What we know about the symptoms — and the severity — of the omicron variant. Jan 8, 2022. Global Health News. https://www.gpb.org/news/shots-health-news/2022/01/08/what-we-know-about-the-symptoms-and-the-severity-of-the-omicron
  • Omicron Variant: What You Need to Know. Updated Dec 20,2021. CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/omicron-variant.html

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