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In some patients who have been affected by Covid, symptoms persist. And this, beyond the acute phase of the disease. According to Doctor Xavier Kyndt, head of the public health department at the Valenciennes hospital center, “20% of patients remain symptomatic“. We then speak of long Covid, which manifests itself in the prolongation of various symptoms and it “concerned”Particularly the hospital of Valenciennes.”We have started talking about Covid for about three months. And to this day, the patients concerned still do not have answers that could reassure their fears. This is an extremely recent subject that we do not yet know well. And for their part, general practitioners also find themselves a little helpless“, Explains doctor Benjamin Dervaux, doctor in follow-up care and rehabilitation. This is why the hospital center has decided to set up a specially adapted care pathway. The goal? Provide a multidisciplinary response to the patients concerned, and perform “research work intended to provide a collective understanding”In the face of this new problem.
Accompanied by psychological care
Several entry points can indicate that we are facing a long Covid: residual disorders of smell and taste, cardiac and pulmonary symptoms (shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain), as well as psychological disorders (sleep, anxiety, depression). Sometimes with “suicidal thoughts“, Adds Dr Xavier Kyndt,“which may concern young subjects (35-50 years) who have not developed serious forms of the disease“. “These patients may also suffer from digestive disorders or joint inflammation. But these specific cases are much rarer“, He continues. “The course we are going to offer will include respiratory rehabilitation, gradual exercise rehabilitation, as well as psychological or even psychiatric care after evaluation of the patient’s initial and current state.“.
For this, the hospital will provide all of its technical platform and will also rely on city medicine. Indeed, “more and more patients are seeing their treating physicians for symptoms that persist for several months after infection“. A form (drawn up with the territorial professional health community, CPTS) will be given to doctors. They will therefore be able to refer patients to a consultation at the hospital center. This will also allow the hospital to spot these long Covid patients. “Today, the care of these patients is too dispersed. So much so that we have not yet been able to truly quantify the extent of the phenomenon in the Valenciennes region. Hence the opening of this exchanges with the liberals“.
A beach
weekly
dedicated to long Covid
A weekly window exclusively dedicated to long Covid consultations will be set up at the Valenciennes hospital center, and it will accommodate five patients. They will then be able to benefit from a “systematic assessment by an MPR doctor (physical medicine and rehabilitation), a nurse and a psychologist“. They will carry out olfactory performance tests, or even stress and concentration tests. Depending on the results of these tests, the patient will then be referred to other specialists, or to other additional examinations (ENT, pneumology, cardiology, etc.).
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