Merdeka.com – A study shows people who are sick with the flu can experience long-term symptoms in a similar way to Covid.
The Oxford University study analyzed the health records of people diagnosed with the flu and Covid, mainly in the United States.
The two groups of people — both have more than 100,000 patients — include those who seek treatment for symptoms within three to six months of contracting it.
These include complaints such as anxiety, abnormal breathing, fatigue and headaches.
The Covid patients were more likely to have long-term symptoms – 42 per cent had at least one recorded symptom compared to 30 per cent in the flu group.
Researchers say both viruses can cause long-term problems that take a while to resolve.
Prof Paul Harrison, one of the lead investigators, said: “Many of us who have had the flu know how you don’t always feel completely better as quickly as you expect or think.”
The higher rates in the Covid group could be influenced by the fact people may be more likely to seek treatment for long-term symptoms of Covid.
However, they say the chances of symptoms in Covid are longer than flu.
The study, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, only looked for long-term signs of symptoms.
The severity of symptoms is also not documented. And the researchers admit there is growing evidence that those who fall seriously ill with Covid can have long-lasting and debilitating symptoms.
They say more research is needed on the long-standing Covid issue, but say it also highlights how little is known about the severity of the condition caused by the flu.
“The long-term symptoms of the flu may have been overlooked before,” added Dr Max Taquet, one of the lead investigators.
Intern reporter: Ramel Maulynda Rachma [pan]
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