Two new symptoms affecting the face and eyes have been observed in certain patients infected with the Pirola variant of Covid-19.
- The Pirola variant has been classified as a variant under surveillance by the World Health Organization (WHO) since August 18, 2023.
- Covid-19 usually causes flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, headache or fever.
- A general practitioner has described two new symptoms linked to the Pirola variant: eye irritation and a facial rash.
In France, many variants of Covid-19 are circulating in the territory. Detected for the first time on August 31, 2023, the Pirola or BA.2.86 variant is a sub-variant of BA.2, and therefore a sub-variant of Omicron. It was detected in a person tested in the Aube department (Grand Est).
Covid-19: eye irritation and rash associated with the Pirola variant
The World Health Organization (WHO) placed the Pirola variant under surveillance (VUM) from August 18. In its epidemiological bulletin of November 2, Public Health France noted an increase in this variant. It represented nearly 6% of the interpretable sequences in the Flash survey of 09/10/2023 compared to 3% for the previous one.
The manifestations linked to the Pirola variant are similar to those of other variants. Patients may suffer from a mild fever, headache, fatigue or even diarrhea. Nevertheless, the Doctor Johannes Uys, a general practitioner practicing in the United Kingdom, has noted two new symptoms, which can occur in the event of infection with the Pirola variant. “Unlike most previous variants, the Pirola sub-variant can cause facial symptoms such as eye irritation and a rash, which results in red patches accompanied by pimples,” he described to the newspaper The Mirror.
Pirola variant of Covid-19: it would not be more dangerous than the others
As explained by Doctor Johannes Uys, the Pirola variant is not more dangerous than other variants of Covid-19. “The risks of developing an acute form of the disease are the same as those of other variants. The majority of patients infected with this sub-variant recover completely with rest”he reassured.
The doctor, however, recalled the importance of barrier gestures in the event of suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection. In case of signs similar to those of coronavirus, it is recommended to wear a mask, wash your hands frequently and take a screening test.
