The recent case of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) has brought front of mind that even after getting over the COVID-19 virus, there may still be health complications for some people.
And while we do not yet know the long-term impact of COVID-19, based on history, we can expect some sort of post-infectious disease syndrome presenting as more people recover.
“The most common persistent symptoms (of this) include fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, cough and decrease in reasoning, impaired memory, and poor concentration,” states Dr Charla Corbin, general practitioner, nutritionist, health advocate and educator.
“In one study, 60 days after patients were discharged from hospital, 33 per cent had unresolved symptoms such as shortness of breath, cough, and chest tightness. Most patients have a full recovery from Covid-19 after a few weeks, although in a smaller percentage of patients, several complications can still occur, the most common being acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), especially in those with severe disease,” she added, noting that complications arise even while having COVID-19.
Corbin said that in another study of people who still had COVID, 20 per cent of individuals with severe disease experienced acute respiratory distress within eight days of the onset of symptoms.
“This often requires ventilation and patients must be admitted to intensive care. In another study, 11 of 27 patients’ post-intensive care unit (ICU) admission developed an enlarged heart.
“Patients can develop complications which are secondary to an increase occurrence of blood clots, some may occur in the lung and are called a pulmonary embolism, or in the brain, such as a stroke. This has even been seen in patients younger than 50 years old, without non-communicable diseases (NCDs),” she said.
The GP added that inflammatory conditions are a frequent complication of all severe viral infections and these include persistent fever, joint pain, headache, rhinitis, myalgia and a disease called Sicca syndrome in which there is decreased saliva, among other symptoms. Other complications include altered taste, dizziness, poor appetite, insomnia and alopecia, which can occur in 10 per cent of individuals; from a few weeks to three months after resolution after symptoms.
She also said multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) can be seen in children with COVID-19.
“MIS, as its name states, is widespread inflammation throughout the body, affecting many organs. A condition known as Guillain Barre syndrome is an infrequent complication in adults after a severe viral infection. It is an inflammatory complication in which the body attacks its own nerves leading to a rapid onset of muscle weakness, tingling, numbness and even arrest of breathing.”
Dr Corbin also pointed out that there is also a different type of health concern associated with this pandemic.
“Many individuals fail to realise or anticipate the significant psychological impact that COVID has on patients and on all individuals, who are discharged from an ICU setting. There is significant percentage of individuals who go on to develop anxiety or depression (22 per cent) and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),” the Health Advocate observed.
She also reiterated important information about COVID-19.
“The virus that causes COVID-19 is designated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Thirty-three per cent of people with COVID remain asymptomatic, that is, without symptoms, that therefore leaves 66 per cent of people developing symptoms. In some studies, individuals who tested positive and were initially asymptomatic were wrongly categorised and were in fact, pre-symptomatic as they went on to develop symptoms.
“Most infections are not severe, but some individuals, whether their illness was severe or not, go on to develop complications. In a study of 44 000 individuals, 81 per cent were reported to have mild disease. Among hospitalised patients, the proportion of those with severe disease or who went on to worsen and be mechanically ventilated, the rate of complications is significantly higher. In a study of over 5 000 patients who were hospitalised with COVID-19 in New York, only 31 per cent had a temperature higher than 100.4°F/38°C at presentation.”
The doctor observed that among patients with symptomatic COVID-19, cough, myalgias, and headache are the most commonly reported symptoms. Other features include diarrhoea, sore throat, change in taste and or smell.
“Although not noted in the majority of patients, gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea and diarrhoea) may be the presenting complaint in some patients,” she added.
Dr Corbin also said it is important to note there is a variation in the percentage of number of deaths by country, which can be attributed to a number of factors such as age, the presence of non-communicable diseases, access to health care, availability of medical resources and burden on the health care system.
This article is brought to you by Better Health Magazine.
