There are “long-haulers” that are still suffering from symptoms months and over a year after their COVID-19 diagnosis.
The COVID Long Haulers condition occurs when one is sickened by COVID-19. The CDC lists a wide range of symptoms that includes:
· Tiredness or fatigue
· Difficulty thinking or concentrating
· Headaches
· Loss of smell or taste
· Dizziness
· Accelerated heartbeat/ heart palpitations
· Chest pains
· Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath
· Cough
· Joint/muscle pain
· Depression/anxiety
· Fever
There is no clear answer how or which patients will develop COVID Long Haulers, but there is emerging research from the Journal Nature Medicine that may shed some light. The journal looked at “self-reported symptoms” among 4,182 cases of COVID-19. Thirteen percent (560 patients) reported symptoms lasting past 28 days.
Persistent symptoms beyond 28 days were significantly increased among the age and women having five symptoms or more during the first week of long COVID symptoms which is two-6 weeks after a diagnosis.
The CDC is providing guidance on how to identify and manage long COVID in patients. The guidance is developed with the input of experts at the CDC and healthcare industry to advocate for the survivors of COVID and provide for long haulers.