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- “Number of patients manifesting post COVID complications higher than what was reported post the First Covid Wave
- Lung fibrosis, breathlessness and depleting oxygen levels remain some of the most reported complications”
New Delhi, July 16, 2021:
The second wave of Covid-19 was much more infectious in comparison to the first wave. The variant of concern was different this time with newer symptoms like high grade fever, diarrhoea, severe lung infection followed by long COVID syndrome and post COVID complications like falling oxygen levels and lung fibrosis that manifested even after 8 weeks or more of testing positive. Long Covid is a condition where people who have recovered from COVID-19 are still exhibiting symptoms far longer than usually expected.
The number of cases reported for long COVID and post COVID complications after the second wave of COVID 19 has been four times more than what was reported last year. Larger number of people were admitted with long COVID syndrome/post COVID complication after 20-30 days of testing positive. Known as long haul Covid cases, these patients continue to experience symptoms of the disease four weeks post the initial recovery. As post Covid complications, many patients are being reported with problems like breathlessness, prolonged weakness, extreme fatigue, recurrent headaches and fever (post the suppression of initial fever during the time of infection), lung fibrosis, an increased pulse rate, various gastrointestinal issues and some uncommon complications like erectile dysfunction, hair loss and menstrual disturbances in women. Being immunocompromised, some patients are also suffering severe post Covid complications like mucormycosis and secondary infections. Recovery for such patients is taking an extended time than expected.
Dr M S Kanwar, Lead Lung Transplant and Covid Team, Senior Consultant, Department of Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals says, “After the 2nd wave of COVID 19 we have had large number of patients coming in with moderate to severe complications even after 8 weeks of testing positive. The reason for it can be a low grade cytokine reaction or any type of immune dysregulation that is going on in the body and which the body hasn’t been able to handle. This number is extremely high to what we had observed last year. The high mortality apart from the morbidity which has lingered on for the months in countless patients is another cause of concern. The behavior of any virus depends on the protein structure of its every mutant/variant. The protein structure decides the way in which the virus would react towards investigations/diagnosis process, its treatment and vaccination.”
“Post Covid complications like chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgia are reported four times more in women than men. Whereas, complications like lung fibrosis are found to be more severe in men”.
The single most common Post Covid symptom after patients become RT-PCR negative is weakness. It is this weakness that leads to tiredness and fatigue and makes it difficult for people to re-focus and feel their normal selves even after five to six months of their testing negative. Hence, to manage and monitor health post getting infected with Covid, it is highly advisable to take preventive health checks, eat a nutritious diet, note blood pressure and sugar levels, engage in breathing exercises, not administer unnecessary medicines to avoid drug-drug interaction and keeping in a constant touch with your doctor.
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