By now, you may have seen headlines linking an alarming new COVID symptom dubbed “razor blade throat” to NB.1.8.1, the variant currently surging in the United States.
The term originated in China, where the strain was first detected, according to the Los Angeles Times. On social media, patients have also described experiencing a scratchy, severe sore throat they attribute to NB.1.8.1, which was first discovered in the U.S. in March.
Since then, NB.1.8.1 has become the nation’s dominant strain, accounting for an estimated 43% of cases in June, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Now that NB.1.8.1 is circulating more than any other variant, just how worried should you be about catching it and developing an unusually intense sore throat? Here’s what experts had to say about the much-talked-about symptom.
Experts say it’s certainly possible for COVID patients to experience a very painful sore throat, but there’s no evidence to suggest that’s unique to NB.1.8.1.
“There may be some slight variation to the symptoms, but not enough to be able to hang your hat on and say this is really distinctive, like the loss of smell was early on in COVID,” Geeta Sood, MD, ScM, an assistant professor of medicine and hospital epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, told Health.
“I’m not really hearing a lot about, ‘Oh my God, my throat has been killing me,’” she added.
Sood did point out that the low COVID vaccination rates this season may make patients more susceptible to severe illness. But this variant is likely not an outlier.
“We don’t have any reason to believe that this variant would have different symptoms than any other,” Shira Doron, MD, chief infection control officer for Tufts Medicine and hospital epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center, told Health. “And we do have data that suggests it’s not more deadly. It’s not more likely to put people in the hospital than other variants.”
Anytime a new variant rises to prominence, it will inherently carry a greater infection risk than other strains. “This variant is becoming successful because it is able to evade immunity,” Sood explained.
But while NB.1.8.1. may be becoming the dominant strain, COVID is not spreading at an exceptional rate.
The level of COVID in wastewater is low across the country, and the COVID hospitalization rate has fallen to its lowest level since the start of the pandemic, per CDC data.
“That’s immunity,” Doron said. “That’s the natural history of a pandemic virus becoming endemic.”
If you do experience an intense sore throat—one that may even feel like a razor is cutting you when you swallow—experts recommend several remedies:
- Honey. A spoonful of honey is a natural remedy for sore throats. You can also add a tablespoon of honey to hot tea.
- Cough drops. For extra strength, search for analgesic throat lozenges, which contain additional pain-fighting ingredients like menthol or benzocaine.
- Throat spray. Like cough drops, throat spray can provide quick relief for sore throats and comes in stronger, analgesic versions.
- Gargling salt water. Mix half a teaspoon of salt into 1 cup of warm water, then stir until the salt dissolves. Gargle small sips of the salt water for 10-15 seconds. Spit it out and repeat until you finish the glass.
- Pain relievers. Take over-the-counter pain medications, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, as needed.
If you do catch COVID, you may experience other common symptoms besides a sore throat, such as:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Congestion or runny nose
- New loss of taste or smell
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
While most healthy people will recover from COVID without medical treatment, experts still recommend talking to your doctor if you test positive. Even if you’re not at risk of severe illness, treatment from a healthcare provider may be able to lower your risk of long COVID.
Research shows that treatment can reduce the risk of long COVID by up to 40%, according to Sood. “That’s pretty significant for a pretty severely debilitating disease,” she said. “That’s a good reason to get tested and a good reason to seek medical care.”
If you experience symptoms of severe COVID—including shortness of breath, chest pain, and dizziness—seek medical attention right away.
