Long-term impact after patients recover from Covid

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In a small study in Rome, Italy, researchers looked at patients with coronavirus who had tested negative through two RT-PCR molecular tests (swabs). Regardless of how severe the infection is, many COVID-19 patients experience long-term effects after testing negative for COVID-19.

Of the 143 patients studied, only 18 (12.6%) were completely free of COVID-19-related symptoms. However, 32% have 1 or 2 symptoms and 55% have 3 or more symptoms of illness that persist even after recovering from COVID-19.

Usually, the symptoms that patients still experience even though they are declared to have recovered include feeling tired easily, shortness of breath, joint pain, chest pain, coughing, and anosmia (loss of the sense of smell).

Will COVID-19 patients who have been negative experience long-term ill effects?

Long-term impact felt by COVID-19 patients

COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms hope to recover within a few weeks, but evidence suggests this hope is difficult to materialize. Because many case reports show that COVID-19 infection leaves symptoms that persist for a long time.

This suggests that patients with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 could potentially still experience viral effects after recovery.

Many doctors say that the number of COVID-19 patients with symptoms of prolonged illness after recovering from COVID-19 is much higher than patients who experience other viral illnesses.

Tim Spector, a genetic epidemiologist at King's College London, said about 12% of patients report symptoms of illness after recovering from COVID-19 last up to 30 days. The data he collected in the COVID Tracker application also recorded that one in 200 people has health problems for up to 90 days.

Symptoms of pain in former COVID-19 patients have been discussed in a number of scientific journals, some cases have even been reported in many mass media.

In the UK, Charlie Russell experienced one example of a COVID-19 patient who felt the long-term impact after testing negative for COVID-19. After 6 months of being declared cured of COVID-19 infection, he still felt heavy and tight in his chest.

“What I hear is that the younger age group most likely have no symptoms or only have a mild illness for a few weeks. If I knew I was going to be this sick, I would have been more serious (taking precautions) since March, ”said Russell, as quoted by The Guardian.

The impact of COVID-19, which makes its victims experience long-term fatigue, was also reported by Athena Akrami who was infected on March 7. Even though he has been declared cured, until now he is unable to do strenuous activities. Even though before being infected with COVID-19, Akrami's body was fairly fit and able to exercise in a fitness center (the gym) three times a week.

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COVID-19 is not just a lung infection

Health problems as a long-term impact after COVID-19 are very diverse. Among them are fatigue, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, joint pain, brain fog or foggy thoughts (problems with memory and concentration), rashes, chest pain, loss of smell, vision problems, and some even report hair loss.

Researchers have not found why some COVID-19 patients have more persistent symptoms than others. Some of the prolonged health problems after COVID-19 cannot be explained with certainty.

Experts suspect that this condition may be related to dysfunction in the central nervous system, because there is already some evidence that COVID-19 can directly enter the brain and attack nerves.

Apart from the novelty of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, such long-term effects also occur in several other viral infections. One of them is the Zika virus infection which attacks the nervous system and causes tingling, weakness, and paralysis.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 is indeed referred to as a respiratory infection that attacks the lungs. But it turns out that the effect is more than just a lung infection, the symptoms of this viral infection occur in various organs of the body.

Researchers are continuing to develop studies to understand COVID-19 infection and new facts that continue to provide surprises. Therefore, medical officers advised the public to be careful, because anyone could have unexpected risks.