The world today, as we all know, is currently grappling with COVID-19, an ongoing pandemic that has taken a massive toll on literally everything and everyone. Thousands of people have been affected by a coronavirus, where some have fully recovered, some are still in recovery, and many have lost the battle against it. In most cases, people have recovered completely within a few weeks, but there are many instances in which some have continued to experience COVID-19 symptoms post-recovery.
Post-COVID-19 Syndrome
COVID-19 symptoms can sometimes persist for months, thereby increasing the risk of long-term health problems.
This condition has been termed as ‘long COVID-19” or “post-COVID-19 Syndrome,’ and people experiencing this condition are referred to as ‘long haulers.’
What’s surprising is that these people continue to experience symptoms that linger well after even testing negative for coronavirus.
According to Dr. Sandeep Lahoti, a gastroenterologist leading the COVID-19 Recovery Clinic at Houston Methodist,
“We’re seeing continued evidence that a fair number of people who have had COVID-19 continue to feel the effects of this illness for weeks to months after recovering from the worst of their symptoms or complications.”
While doctors are still unsure as to how long these symptoms can persist, reports and evidence show that they can last at least six months and even longer in some people.
The cause of these lingering COVID-19 symptoms is also unclear, and doctors don’t know for sure as to why the post-COVID-19 syndrome occurs. However, hypotheses suggest that it could due to prolonged inflammatory response and hidden areas of infection.
Furthermore, the question about the long-term outcomes of these lingering symptoms is also not so clear, given that there aren’t any such outcomes. Although doctors and researchers know that coronavirus can certainly impact the quality of life, it is too soon to assume that it could cause ongoing organ damage or other such severe effects.
What Are The Symptoms of Post-COVID Syndrome?
Just like how COVID-19 brings with it a host of mild to debilitating symptoms, the same way the post-COVID-19 syndrome also comes with a range of lingering symptoms.
The most common symptoms that one can experience after being positive for COVID-19 include:
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- Difficulty in breathing
- Joint pain
- Loss of taste and/or smell
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Sleep issues
- Brain fog also includes an inability to concentrate.
- Impaired memory
- Diarrhea/nausea
- Congestion
- Body ache
