Long Covid as a new widespread disease?

"Only 50 percent of the old performance"

Created: 03/22/2022, 16:00

By: Natalie Hull Drawbar

The “curse” of long covid – more than 75 percent of those who are ill still suffer from symptoms months after the corona infection, and many are unable to work.

Bad Gottleuba - The rehabilitation clinic in Bad Gottleuba is just one of various specialized facilities in Germany where people with persistent symptoms after a corona infection are treated.

dr

medical

Christoph Altmann reports to MDR television how drastic the long-term consequences of his patients are and how bad not only the physical but also the mental condition of those affected is.

“Most patients with Long Covid that I ask what percentage of the person they are that they were, they tell me only 50 percent.

That's serious.

Many of them do not get out of this valley for many months.”

Long Covid as a new widespread disease?

"Only 50 percent of the old performance"

Long Covid has many faces.

So many faces that doctors themselves experience new facets of the insidious post-corona disease based on the suffering of their patients.

"It's a mystery.

That's why many Long Covid patients feel isolated, not taken seriously.

Doctors are sometimes overwhelmed."

Altmann to the MDR.

An estimated two to 20 percent of adults suffering from corona still suffer from their life-limiting symptoms after twelve or more weeks*.

According to international study results from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), the highest viral load from SARS-CoV-2 in many people infected with corona is initially in the airways and lungs.

However, special analyzes also show virus particles in the brain and heart*.

This means that the Covid virus can affect different organs and most likely cause long-term damage in them as well.

Those affected with a severe course of COVID-19 probably suffer from longer-term symptoms more often than patients who initially had a mild course.

In addition, women - regardless of age - are disproportionately affected by long-term health consequences after a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Long Covid hits the elderly, but also children and young people

Long Covid can not only affect older people, but also younger people like law student Gina Kadow, unfortunately.

"I take painkillers every day, I have a bad headache, I don't have enough stamina, I can't concentrate* and I'm always weak and tired.

In addition, I have severe hair loss, only a small part of my thick, long hair is left,” the 28-year-old tells MDR television.

More than 75 percent of those who are ill still suffer from symptoms months after the corona infection, and many are unable to work.

(Icon image) © Cavan Images/Imago

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So far, it has been assumed that risk factors such as old age and previous physical and mental illnesses can contribute to the development of Long Covid.

But even children and young people are not spared from the long-term health consequences of a SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 disease*.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), however, it is still unclear how pronounced and how often these long-term consequences manifest themselves in children and adolescents.

The previous scientific studies on long-term health consequences after a SARS-CoV-2 infection mainly relate to adult patients.

Long Covid and its consequences: Long-term studies are still pending

In Germany, but also in the international environment, a large number of scientific studies have now started, published for example in the scientific journal The BMJ and the journal Science of the American Association.

In these studies, possible long-term consequences after COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 infection are examined.

The aim is to better understand affected Long Covid patients and to ensure good health care and support for sick people.

The long-term health consequences of COVID-19 in children and adolescents* are being researched, for example, as part of the Post-COVID-19 Survey of the German Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases.

Preventing Long Covid is not possible in all cases.

But experts, based on studies, see a clear connection in the fact that people with a corona vaccination not only often show a milder course than those who have not been vaccinated.

The results also suggest that there is a lower risk of suffering from long-Covid symptoms*.

*

This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication.

In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor.

Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.