THE DOCTOR IS IN / BY DR. ADIL MANZOOR OP-ED
Getting infected with the coronavirus is no longer something many people fear, especially vaccinated people. And that makes sense, considering the almost negligible chance of dying or even getting hospitalized when vaccinated people get the virus.
Unlike typical vaccines that prevent people from getting infected in the first place, the COVID vaccine cannot assure that, at least, not anymore. Rather, it only ensures there is a minimal practical risk of dying or even getting seriously ill from the virus. Again, it is, therefore, very understandable that people don’t fear getting infected anymore.
However, there is something to be concerned about for both the vaccinated and unvaccinated, and that is long COVID. Long COVID is short for the “long-term effects of coronavirus.” Medically, the condition is known as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC).
Now, it is only the effects of the coronavirus that last long and not the duration of the infection itself. To put it in a simple way, long COVID refers to symptoms of the coronavirus that last long after the infection has gone. It is important to make this distinction, as many people believe that long COVID is a coronavirus infection that lasts very long.
Why does this happen? Well, there is no definite answer to that question, as researchers only recently started studying the condition. However, from the studies that have been conducted, the four main risk factors are the presence of particular autoantibodies, a high viral (RNA) load, Type 2 diabetes, and the reactivation of the Epstein-Barr virus, which sits latent in the blood of most people following a childhood infection.
While these factors don’t necessarily mean you will have long COVID, it indicates people that are at a higher risk of having the condition. This is one study – a relatively small one at that – though, and it will be irresponsible to make bold assertions, but it’s nice to see science making progress about this condition.
I understand that it may be frustrating not to have all the answers about any COVID-related condition, but you have to remember that COVID-19 is a novel condition. Scientists and researchers don’t have previous research and studies to examine when things get cloudy.
Since we have the risk factors out of the way, let us consider the symptoms of the condition. According to the NHS, common long COVID symptoms include extreme tiredness (fatigue), shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, problems with memory and concentration (“brain fog”), difficulty sleeping (insomnia), heart palpitations, dizziness, pins and needles, joint pain, depression and anxiety, tinnitus, earaches, feeling sick, diarrhea, stomach aches, loss of appetite, a high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste, and rashes.
These symptoms may last only a few days or weeks in some people but may persist for more than three months in others. Interestingly, the chances of having long COVID do not seem to be related to the severity of the coronavirus infection. In other words, people who only exhibited mild symptoms can still have long COVID, and for months too.
As of right now, there is no proven effective drug treatment plan for managing long COVID. The only treatment plan available is a supportive care regimen where the symptoms are managed to prevent them from interfering with the lives of affected individuals.
Before I forget – yes, vaccines help, unsurprisingly. Studies have shown that vaccinated people are less likely to develop long COVID. Also, unvaccinated people who catch the virus and get symptoms of long COVID do better if they then get vaccinated. Vaccines helping the fight against long COVID are possibly the least surprising thing I have written today and again echoes my pleas to get vaccinated if you haven’t. Stay safe.
This article was written by Dr. Adil Manzoor DO, a Board Certified Internist & Board Eligible Pediatrician, who works as a Hospitalist, and Emergency Room Physician. He is also the current President of Garden State Street Medicine, a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to provide free preventive and acute urgent care services for the homeless. He is also the co-founder of his own unique medical practice Mobile Medicine NJ.
References
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/long-term-effects-of-coronavirus-long-covid/#:~:text=For%20some%20people%2C%20coronavirus%20(COVID,syndrome%20or%20%22long%20COVID%22.
- https://www.bbc.com/news/health-57833394
- https://www.bbc.com/news/health-60393588
- https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20220207/new-research-into-long-covid
