Chronicle Editor
I hope I find you well and in good health. This is a time riddled with complex unanswered questions. Covid-19 has left great scientists and policy makers scratching their heads for permanent solutions but to no avail. The warm weather is giving us a glimmer of hope as it has seen a significant decrease in the number of cases.
Some patients who have recovered from Covid-19 have been experiencing symptoms, even nine months after being PCR swab negative. The term post Covid-19 syndrome, long Covid and long haulers have been coined. Psychiatrist attribute it to post traumatic stress disorder, because investigations do not yield supporting results.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, or rape or who have been threatened with death, sexual violence or serious injury. Either way the symptoms are still a Covid-19 survivor’s experience.
Most people who have Covid-19 expect their symptoms to disappear after a few weeks, but some continue to experience effects months after recovery.
Dr Fidaa Shaib, a pulmonary expert at Baylor College of Medicine, says people who suffer from persistent symptoms after recovering from the acute illness, also known as “long-haulers,” are often healthy prior to getting infected with Covid-19. This can occur in up to 10 percent of those infected with the virus. This is not only peculiar to Covid-19.
The virus that causes chickenpox and shingles, may harbour the pathogen in their nervous systems for years.
Survivors of previous coronavirus infections, including the SARS epidemic of 2003 and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak of 2012, have demonstrated a similar constellation of persistent symptoms, reinforcing concern for clinically significant sequel of Covid-19.
Common long-term Covid-19 symptoms include:
Shortness of breath
A lingering cough at times with mucus or phlegm
Chest pain and heart palpitations
Dizziness and light-headedness
Fatigue with limited ability to exercise or even perform activities of daily living
Joint and muscle pain
Loss of taste and smell
Sleep disturbances with insomnia and sleepiness during the daytime
Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and indigestion.
Depressed mood and anxiety
Fever
Some doctors are reporting rashes tied to Covid-19, including purple or blue lesions on children’s toes and feet.
Researchers are looking into these reports so they can understand the effect on people who have Covid-19.
Some people who have suffered from long Covid symptoms say they are finding relief after getting vaccinated. Long Covid is still not well understood by doctors. One theory, according to Yale immunologist Akiko Iwasaki, is that the vaccines help eliminate the so-called “viral reservoir,” where the virus may still be lingering in the body and causing chronic symptoms.
Physical activity and ambulation should be recommended to all patients when appropriate. Recovered patients may have persistently increased cardio-metabolic demand, as observed in long-term evaluation of SARS survivors.
Serial clinical and imaging evaluation with electrocardiogram and echocardiogram at 4–12 weeks may be considered in those with cardiovascular complications during acute infection, or persistent cardiac symptoms.
The World Health Organisation estimates that about 1 in 10 Covid patients experience persistently ill health 12 weeks after getting the virus.
Treatment of long Covid remains symptomatic, some patients have benefitted immensely from undergoing psychological assessment and therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Prevention is better than cure for Covid-19;
Hand washing for at least 20 seconds each time, with soap and water.
Use an alcohol-based sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol if you don’t have soap and water handy.
Physical distancing at least one metre away.
Wear a (cloth) face mask in public places.
Avoid people who are sick. Avoid gatherings.
Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth unless you’ve just washed your hands.
Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces that you touch a lot.
Get vaccinated.
Till next week, stay safe
Dr Tatenda Simango can be contacted on [email protected] or follow him on Facebook@ 9th Avenue Surgery.
Online Reporter