The number of coronavirus cases in Spain continues to increase due to new variants BA.4, BA.5 and Centaurus. According to the latest data published by the Ministry of Health, hay 41,683 new infections and the cumulative incidence among older than 60 years is 1,018 per 100,000 inhabitants at 14 days.
Also, 382 people have diedwhich amounts to a total of 109,642 deaths since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, in March 2020.
Regarding hospital pressure, the number of occupied beds is 9.64% And in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) in 6,30%.
For their part, many of the patients who have managed to overcome the disease continue with symptoms for an extended period of time.
What is persistent Covid?
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that prolonged or persistent Covid is the “the condition that occurs in individuals with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, usually three months after onset, with symptoms lasting at least two months y cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis“.
Likewise, from the Spanish Society of General and Family Physicians (SEMG) they affirm that it is a disease derived from the coronavirus that approximately one 15% of adult patients who have passed the coronavirusand between 5% and 10% of children.
What are the symptoms of persistent Covid?
From the WHO they communicate that the persistent Covid affects systems:
- Cardiovascular: Heart rate (especially tachycardia), blood pressure, varicose veins, thrombi, chest pain (angina pectoris).
- Dermatological: Itching, hives, rashes, skin and nail changes, alopecia, perniosis, new allergies.
- Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain, discomfort/dyspepsia, reflux, irritable bowel, anorexia, diarrhoea, constipation, dysphagia.
- Immunological and autoimmune: New or increased immune responses, new food or drug allergies/intolerances.
- Musculoskeletal: Musculoskeletal and joint pain, muscle spasms, chest pressure, muscle weakness, sarcopenia.
- neurological: Cognitive impairment, dizziness, memory loss, brain fog, language disturbances, sensitivity disturbances (paresthesias), sleep disturbances, headaches, taste and/or smell disturbances, hallucinations, blurred vision, confusional pictures, facial paralysis, dysautonomia.
- Otorhinolaryngological and ophthalmological: Facial paralysis, dry eyes, blurred vision, sore throat, dysphonia, tinnitus, vertigo.
- Psychiatric: Anxiety, low mood, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Pulmonary and respiratory: Dyspnea, dry cough, sneezing, changes in oxygen saturation.
- Reproductive, genitourinary and endocrine: Changes in menstruation, sexual intercourse, hyperactive urinary bladder function, diabetic onset and thyroid changes.
- Synstemic: Tiredness, fever or low-grade fever, weakness, hot flashes, sweating, exacerbation after exertion and weight loss.
These are the factors that increase the risk of persistent Covid
On the other hand, a British study called REACT-2 which was published on April 12 of this year 2022 anticipates what are the factors that increase the risk of persistent Covid.
- Age
- Obesity
- smoking
- Use of electronic cigarettes
- Hospitalization for covid-19
- Being a health worker
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