In many countries, while the restrictions imposed due to the epidemic are being lifted, concerns are expressed that people who have not yet been vaccinated will face the prolonged Covid problem.
WHAT ARE THE EXTENDED COVID SYMPTOMS?
According to the news of Rachel Schraer from the BBC, in the guide for health workers in the UK, it is stated that Covid symptoms, whether mild or severe, continue 12 weeks after the infection starts and if there is no other reason, a prolonged Covid diagnosis can be made.
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) lists the protracted Covid symptoms as follows:
– extreme fatigue
– shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain and tightness
– memory and concentration problem (“brain blur”)
– change in sense of taste and smell
– joint pain
It was seen that dozens, even hundreds of other complaints were voiced in the surveys on the subject. UCL University in London, which conducted the most comprehensive research on this subject, detected 200 symptoms affecting 10 organ systems in patients with prolonged Covid.
These include hallucinations, insomnia, altered hearing and vision, short-term memory loss, and problems with speech and language skills. In addition, stomach and intestinal problems, bladder problems, changes in the period pattern of some women and skin problems can be listed.
The degree of these symptoms can vary from person to person, but many people state that they have difficulty in processes such as bathing, shopping, remembering words.
WHAT CAUSES THE EXTENDED COVID?
We don’t know for sure yet.
But one possible reason may be that some people have an overactive immune system against the coronavirus, attacking not only the virus but also the tissues. This can be seen in people who have a strong immune response to the virus.
The attack and destruction of our cells by the virus may also cause symptoms such as cloudiness in the brain and loss of sense of taste and smell. Likewise, the destruction of the vessels by the virus can cause problems with the heart, lungs and brain.
According to another theory on this subject, it may be possible to become active again after a while due to the fact that the virus remains in the body.
A similar situation is encountered in other viruses such as herpes (herpes) and Epstein Barr virus, which causes the disease known as kissing disease among the people. However, there is not much data yet that this may occur in Covid.
It is possible to talk about a situation that causes different problems in different people.
WHO HAS EXTENDED COVID, HOW COMMON?
It is difficult to give a definite answer to this question today, because it can be said that doctors have just begun to register the prolonged Covid as an official diagnosis.
However, many studies show that this probability increases with age and is twice as common among women.
Some protracted Covid symptoms are more common in those who are more severely ill or are being treated in hospital.
According to the results of Kings College University in London, which examined many studies and records on the subject, 1-2 percent of people in their 20s and 5 percent of people in their 60s have prolonged Covid symptoms.
Working with prolonged Covid patients at the University of Exeter School of Medicine, Dr. David Strain says most patients sent to the clinic are in their 20s, 30s and 40s. This is due to the fact that these symptoms are slightly less common in people of this age, but have a greater effect.
According to Dr Athena Akrami, who conducted the UCL research, we may be facing a big wave, in which one in 7 cases of mild infections will show prolonged Covid symptoms. Due to the low rate of vaccination, the number of afflicted may increase among the young population.
HOW DO WE KNOW WE ARE EXTENDED COVID?
Dr. Strain says there is no test for it, and the diagnosis can be made by “exclusion of other diagnoses.” Doctors look to see if there are other problems such as diabetes, thyroid, iron deficiency, and if these are not present, they consider the possibility of prolonged Covid.
Researchers state that a blood test may be developed to diagnose prolonged Covid in the near future. In research, advanced devices can be used to diagnose organ damage, but they are not yet possible to see in normal doctor’s offices.
DOES VACCINE WORK?
Nearly half of patients diagnosed with Prolonged Covid say that some symptoms have improved after vaccination. This may be due to the immune system being regulated by the vaccine, or the vaccine helping the body deal with the remnants of the virus.
The vaccine also eliminates the risk of prolonged Covid development, as it initially serves to prevent contracting the virus.
IS THERE EXTENDED COVID TREATMENT?
Extended Covid diagnosis centers have been established in 89 health centers in the UK. While similar clinics are planned to be opened in Northern Ireland, neighborhood doctors may refer patients to different services in Scotland and Wales depending on the symptoms.
There is no specific drug that has proven effective in the treatment of prolonged Covid patients. For now, the focus is only on managing symptoms and gradually increasing activity. Official clinical trials for drug therapy are scheduled to begin soon. (BBC Turkey)
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