Anju Goel, MD, Master of Public Health, is a board-certified physician specializing in public health, infectious diseases, diabetes, and health policy.
About a year after the first case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was discovered in the United States in 2019, as of February 2, 2021, more than 100 million people have been infected and 2.2 million people have died globally. This virus, also known as SARS-CoV-2, poses serious long-term physical and psychological challenges for the survivors.
It is estimated that 10% of COVID-19 patients become long-distance travellers, or people who still have COVID-19 symptoms weeks or months after infection. Most COVID long-distance transporters have tested negative for the disease. At present, little is known about COVID long-distance transport vehicles. Both people with serious illnesses and people with only mild symptoms can become long-distance transporters. Long-term symptoms vary from person to person. The medical community is still working hard to find the causes and risk factors of these long-term health problems from COVID-19.
The new coronavirus is a multifunctional pathogen. It mainly affects the respiratory system, but as the infection spreads, it is clear that this virus can cause severe damage to many other parts of the body.
Since COVID-19 affects many parts of the body, it may cause a wide range of symptoms. Even after the acute illness has passed, these symptoms will persist, affecting some or all of the same body system.
Since the new coronavirus is a new type of virus, there is little information about the long-term consequences of the disease it causes. There is not even a real consensus on how to call the long-term condition stemming from COVID-19. The following names have been used:
Experts are also unsure how to define the long-term diseases associated with COVID. One study defined post-acute COVID-19 as more than 3 weeks from the onset of initial symptoms, and chronic COVID-19 as more than 12 weeks.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the five most common symptoms of COVID long-distance transporters are:
Not all people who transport COVID over long distances have the same symptoms. A report identified as many as 50 symptoms associated with long-term COVID disease through an investigation of 1,500 long-distance COVID transporters. Other reported symptoms of COVID long-distance transporters include:
The authors of the investigation report concluded that the symptoms of COVID long-distance transporters are much more than those currently listed on the CDC website. The survey results also show that in addition to the lungs and heart, the brain, eyes, and skin are often affected during long-distance transportation of COVID.
There is still a lot to learn about the long-term effects of COVID-19. It is not clear why some people experience COVID symptoms. One proposed theory assumes that the virus may be present in the body of COVID long-distance transporters in some small form. Another theory suggests that even after the infection has passed, the immune system of long-distance transporters will continue to overreact.
It is not clear why some people have chronic COVID complications, while others have fully recovered. Both moderate to severe COVID cases and mild cases have reported long-term effects. They seem to affect many different people, including people with or without chronic diseases, young or old, and people who have been hospitalized or not. There is currently no clear model as to why someone is at a higher risk of long-term complications due to COVID-19. Many studies are underway to investigate the causes and risk factors.
Many COVID-19 long-distance transporters have never obtained laboratory confirmation of COVID-19, and in another survey only a quarter of the respondents reported that they tested positive for the disease. This leads people to suspect that the symptoms of COVID long-distance transporters are not real, and some people report that their persistent symptoms are not taken seriously. Therefore, even if you have not tested positive before, if you suspect that you have long-term COVID symptoms, please speak up and ask your doctor.
There is currently no test to diagnose the long-term complications of COVID-19, but blood tests may help diagnose long-term COVID-19 complications.
If you are concerned about COVID-19 or chest X-rays causing damage to your heart, your doctor may also order tests such as an electrocardiogram to monitor for any lung damage. The British Thoracic Society recommends chest X-rays for people with severe respiratory illness that lasts for 12 weeks.
Just as there is no single way to diagnose long-distance COVID, there is no single treatment that can make all COVID symptoms go away. In some cases, especially lung injuries, the changes may be permanent and require continuous care. In the event of a difficult COVID case or evidence of permanent damage, your doctor may refer you to a respiratory or cardiac specialist.
The needs of people facing long-term complications of COVID are huge. People who are seriously ill and require mechanical ventilation or dialysis may face ongoing health challenges during their recovery. Even people with mild illness may struggle with persistent fatigue, coughing, shortness of breath, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Treatment focuses on the biggest problem you face, which has the greatest impact on your ability to return to a normal lifestyle.
Remote COVID problems can also be resolved through supportive care. There are many things you can do to keep your body strong and healthy because it can fight the virus and recover. These include:
Unfortunately, because the long-term complications of COVID-19 are so new and research on them is still ongoing, it is difficult to say when the persistent symptoms will be resolved and what the prospects for long-distance transporters of COVID-19 are. Most people with COVID-19 will see their symptoms disappear within a few weeks. For those whose problems persist for several months, it may cause permanent damage, leading to a chronic health condition. If your symptoms persist for more than a few weeks, please see a doctor. They will help guide you in dealing with any ongoing health problems.
Coping with long-term changes in COVID-19 symptoms may be the most difficult aspect of the recovery process. For young people who lead an active life, fatigue and lack of energy can be difficult to cope with. For the elderly, new issues from COVID-19 may add to many existing conditions and make it more difficult to operate independently at home.
Continuous support from family, friends, community organizations, online groups, and medical professionals can all help you deal with the long-term effects of COVID-19.
There are many other financial and healthcare resources that can help people infected with COVID-19, such as Benefits.gov.
COVID-19 has affected millions of people around the world, and for some, it has brought new and permanent health challenges. Symptoms of COVID traveling long distances can last for weeks or even months, or the virus may cause permanent damage to organs such as the heart and lungs. The emotional loss and the stress of isolation caused by new health problems may be difficult to cope with, but know that you are not alone. Family members, friends, community services, and healthcare providers can all provide support in dealing with the ongoing problems caused by COVID-19.
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Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. The long-term effects of COVID-19. Updated on November 13, 2020.
Indiana University School of Medicine and Survivor Corps. COVID-19 “long-distance transportation” symptom investigation report. Released on July 25, 2020.
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Post time: Jul-09-2021