In most cases, COVID-19 will pass after some time, even if some of the symptoms will continue to persist for a while. However, some patients face long-term issues after the infection, sparking new studies.
Despite recent research, there isn’t a standard list that features a clear definition or a centralized list of symptoms encountered by all patients. Symptoms can vary in a dramatic manner from one patient to another. An intense feeling of fatigue is thought to be the most common symptom.
Symptoms and length
There are several other symptoms, including a persistent cough, the feeling that you can’t breathe, headaches, pain across joints, eyesight issues, and loss of small. Severe cases can also feature damage to internal organs, including the heart, lungs, and kidneys
New data infers that even people who have experienced a mild COVID-19 infection can develop long-lasting consequences that will pose trouble for an extended time. One study notes that 87% of patients have reported at least one issue after they were discharged from the hospital.
Long-term consequences
Half of the participants of a recent study mentioned persistent fatigue after ten weeks since they were diagnosed with coronavirus. A third of the participants have also stated that they haven’t been able to return to work. Severe fatigue is only one of the long-term issues as possible lung damage could favor more problems in the long run.
Some researchers argue that the virus can remain in some areas of the body and continues to cause damage as it triggers a severe reaction from the immune system. Lung-scaring, one of the most dangerous long-term complications, has been associated with other types of coronavirus, including SARS and MERS. A few scientists have also suggested that brain damage has been observed in a few cases.
More research will take place in the future as scientists are looking for possible solutions.