New COVID variant may cause 'razor blade throat' — here's what to know

A caller COVID-19 variant called NB.1.8.1 could relationship for up to one-third of cases, according to wellness officials. 

One hallmark of this latest strain is simply a grounds immoderate radical are calling "razor leaf throat."

The variant — informally referred to arsenic "Nimbus" — made up an estimated 37% of cases successful the U.S. during a two-week play ending June 7, arsenic stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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Nimbus appears to beryllium much easy transmissible, but not much virulent, meaning it doesn’t mostly marque radical sicker than other variants, Fox News elder aesculapian expert Dr. Marc Siegel told Fox News Digital.

One hallmark of the latest COVID strain is simply a grounds immoderate radical are calling "razor leaf throat." (iStock)

What is razor leaf throat?

"Many of the COVID subvariants person a diagnostic feature," Siegel said, noting that Nimbus has been known to origin a "razor-sharp" sore throat.

Patients person been reporting extremely painful sore throats, with immoderate comparing the sensation to swallowing razor blades oregon glass.

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Kenneth Perry, MD, an ER doc successful South Carolina, agrees that the predominant symptoms of each COVID strain person changed and morphed. 

"With immoderate variants, fever and assemblage aches were much prominent, wherever different strains had astir nary symptoms astatine all," helium told Fox News Digital. "With the caller variant, it appears that the sore pharynx is yet again a salient symptom."

"Nothing helped. It was perfectly excruciating."

The sore pharynx is caused by the nonstop corruption of the cells of the throat, causing irritation, according to Perry.

There has been a caller spike successful searches for "razor leaf pharynx COVID" and different akin phrases, per Google Trends.

Patients are reporting highly achy sore throats, with immoderate comparing the sensation to swallowing razor blades oregon glass. (iStock)

One idiosyncratic connected Reddit stated that "razor leaf throat" is an close statement of their symptoms.

"I knew it, that is precisely however [I] described it to people. Like swallowing razor blades oregon shards of glass," the idiosyncratic wrote.

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"Nothing helped. It was perfectly excruciating."

Another Reddit idiosyncratic wrote that they had COVID 4 times, and each time, they experienced sharp, achy pharynx irritation.

Other causes

An aggravated sore pharynx does not needfully mean COVID is to blame, nor is it an wholly caller symptom. 

Pharyngitis — the aesculapian word for a sore pharynx — tin person a assortment of causes. Bacterial infections, allergies and acid reflux tin each lend to pharynx pain, experts say.

"Pharyngitis, oregon sore throat, is simply a communal uncovering with galore viral infections," Perry told Fox News Digital. "Although astir 20% of sore throats are caused by certain bacteria, astir are caused by viruses specified arsenic COVID."

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Treatment for pharynx symptom volition beryllium connected the cause, which is wherefore it’s important to consult a healthcare nonrecreational for a medical diagnosis, doctors agree.

Treatment for pharyngitis is typically a premix of classical remedies and medicine, according to Perry.

"Honey is the attraction of prime for sore pharynx and cough," helium told Fox News Digital. "Anti-inflammatory medications specified arsenic ibuprofen oregon naproxen are besides adjuvant to amended symptoms."

Drinking soothing liquids similar beverage with citrus and chromatic whitethorn assistance dry, scratchy throats, experts advise. (iStock)

Bacterial infections whitethorn necessitate antibiotics, portion attraction for acerb reflux could beryllium arsenic elemental arsenic an over-the-counter antacid.

"Patients whitethorn person trouble keeping up with hydration oregon adjacent occupation taking medicine to assistance their symptoms owed to the symptom successful their throat, which tin origin them to beryllium dehydrated," Perry cautioned.

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"Gargling a substance that’s ½ spoon of brackish per 1 cupful of h2o tin easiness inflammation and irritation successful your throat," according to Cleveland Clinic.

Siegel added that sucking connected lozenges, gargling, staying hydrated and numbing the pharynx tin each assistance to soothe symptoms.