Scientists and doctors are trying to understand what causes the so-called long covid, i.e. a condition in which disease symptoms or health complications persist for weeks or months after contracting COVID-19. A new study found 203 different symptoms after coronavirus infection in 10 different organs in the human body.
- Scientists are closely analyzing cases of “long covid”, which lasts up to 6-7 months after infection
- New research has found over 200 symptoms that people experience long after infection
- The most common of them are fatigue, malaise after physical or mental exertion, and the so-called brain fog, but there are also diarrhea and sexual problems
- You can find more up-to-date information on the TvoiLokony home page
For the purposes of the study, scientists created a survey via the Body Politic COVID-19 online support group, which characterized the symptom profile and course of the disease in patients with confirmed or suspected long covid. The results of the study were published on the EClinicalMedicine website of the Lancet journal. The survey was open to people 18 years of age or older who experienced COVID-19 symptoms, including those who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and did not test positive. The survey consisted of 257 questions.
- Long COVID-19. Why do some people recover for months?
Long covid – list of symptoms
According to responses from 3762 eligible participants from 56 countries, researchers found that a total of 203 symptoms in 10 organs were identified, of which 66 symptoms were indicated for up to seven months. The most common symptoms were fatigue and post-workout malaise (worsening of symptoms after exercise or mental exertion) and cognitive dysfunction, often called brain fog. Among the various symptoms, they also appeared visual hallucinations, tremors, itchy skin, changes in the menstrual cycle, sexual dysfunction, palpitations, bladder control problems, shingles, memory loss, blurred vision, diarrhea and tinnitus.
“They suffer in silence”
For over 90 percent of respondents, the recovery time exceeded 35 weeks. Within seven months, many patients had not yet recovered, suffering mainly from systemic and neurological symptoms.
Dr Athena Akrami, a neuroscientist at University College London and one of the authors of the study, emphasizes that “while much is said about ‘long covid’, there is little systematic research into this population.”
- Long COVID-19: Who’s Most at Risk?
Scientists observe that the symptoms of “long covid” disappear after vaccination, but only in some patients. The issue requires observation and further research. Survey results also show that women are more likely to suffer from long-term disease.
Dr. Athena Akrami also points out that the survey results clearly show long-term respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms, so there is a need to expand the research to assess a much wider range of symptoms when diagnosing chronic COVID-19. “Moreover, there are likely tens of thousands of long-term COVID-19 patients suffering in silence, unsure whether their symptoms are related to the disease,” says the doctor.
Have you been infected with COVID-19 and are worried about the side effects? Check your health by performing a comprehensive test package for convalescents.
See also:
- Why does the UK endure restrictions as the number of infected grows?
- How long will the J&J vaccine protect? There is new research
- Virologist: Fourth Wave Mid-August. It will hit eastern Poland
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