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When COVID-19 entered the international spotlight at the start of 2020, there was much we didn’t know about the new virus. A little over one year out, we’ve learned a lot about how the virus is transmitted, who is at the highest risk for the most severe symptoms, and have even rolled out vaccinations, but we are still only at the very beginning of understanding the long-term effects the virus can have on patients.
While the majority of individuals who contract COVID-19 are able to recover without lasting symptoms, a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association estimated that roughly 10% will continue to experience ongoing symptoms even after they test negative for the virus. These lasting symptoms have been nicknamed “long COVID,” and the patients who deal with them have been deemed “long-haulers.”
Exactly why some people experience these long-term symptoms is unknown. There are theories that the virus somehow remains in certain individuals in an undetectable form, or that patients’ immune systems continue to respond with antibodies to fight the virus even after the infection has passed. There is no specific demographic that is more at-risk for developing long COVID — it affects people within all age groups, with or without high-risk factors, indiscriminately and without regard for how severe the patients’ initial symptoms of COVID-19 were.
SYMPTOMS
Because the majority of long-haulers test negative for COVID-19, there is no specific test that can be administered for long COVID. Diagnosis is made in the review of the patients’ symptoms and COVID-19 history. Individuals who had mild COVID-19 symptoms initially may experience new or exacerbated symptoms after infection. Long COVID can last for a couple of weeks, or for months, and it is not yet known whether some symptoms or issues may be permanent. Also important to know is that individuals with long COVID are not actually infected and are not transmitting the virus to others.
Symptoms are wide-ranging and include:
- Ongoing fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Joint pain
- Chest paint
- Coughing
- Body aches
- Loss of taste and smell
- Difficulty sleeping
- Dizziness on standing
- Headaches
- Impaired memory
- Difficulty concentrating
- Depression or anxiety
Some people have reported relapsing after periods of no symptoms, while others suffer from ongoing, persistent effects. These continued symptoms may be mild, or as severe as multi-organ effects which can involve the heart, lung, kidney, skin, or brain functions. These multi-organ effects can lead to conditions like organ inflammation or autoimmune conditions, and it is not yet known whether these conditions can be permanent.
If you are experiencing long COVID symptoms and they are impacting your day-to-day life, you can be evaluated at your nearest ConvenientMD location, or schedule a virtual urgent care appointment. Our clinicians can help determine whether you may be experiencing long COVID, and help treat and manage your symptoms or refer you to a specialist for follow-up care if warranted. Treatment is evolving with our understanding of long COVID, and you can rest assured that our staff is available to provide recommendations for care based on the most recent medical guidance.
PREVENTION AND VACCINATION
Especially because we don’t yet know whether these symptoms can be permanent, or are causing permanent damage to our systems, the best way to prevent these complications is to prevent COVID-19 infection altogether. The best way to do this, in addition to taking precautionary measures like wearing masks, socially distancing yourself from others, and washing your hands frequently, is, to get vaccinated.
CDC generally recommends that individuals be vaccinated regardless of whether they already had COVID-19, although if you are experiencing long COVID, you may wish to first speak to your physician before scheduling an appointment. Some anecdotal experiences suggest that people with long COVID experience improved symptoms following vaccination, but the causation has not been clinically identified.
Currently, ConvenientMD clinics in New Hampshire are providing COVID-19 vaccinations, by-appointment-only. Patients can register on the State’s VINI website, and select their nearest ConvenientMD as their preferred vaccination location to view available appointments.