Long COVID symptoms: Basic aspects of cardio-pulmonary and neurological pathways!
1 Associate Professor, Pulmonary Medicine, MIMSR Medical College, Venkatesh Hospital, Latur, Maharashtra, India.
2 Junior Resident, Internal Medicine, MIMSR Medical college, Latur, Maharashtra, India.
3 Associate Professor, Internal Medicine, MIMSR Medical College, Latur, Maharashtra, India.
Review
World Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences, 2023, 04(01), 034–047.
Article DOI: 10.53346/wjapls.2023.4.1.0060
Publication history:
Received on 18 February 2023; revised on 24 March 2023; accepted on 27 March 2023
Abstract:
Long COVID is more prevalent chronic health care issue in post COVID care settings. We are in great piece of relief due to nearly end of this deadly pandemic which has caused significant change in routine of entire globe. Long COVID is an unpredicted sequel of COVID-19 disease documented nearly in half cases globally. Long COVID is multisystem syndrome with nonspecific symptoms and organic signs of unidentified pathology occurs after COVID-19 disease. Long COVID symptoms has been documented in ‘selected’ cases irrespective of disease severity or hospitalization and possible link remains unknown. Long COVID symptoms has significant impact on quality of life in those cases suffered from disease in recent past and lingering to almost two years since infection. Importantly, not all cases of COVID-19 were shown long COVID symptoms. Most common long COVID symptoms as joint pain, fatigability, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, hair loss, chest pain, weight gain, anxiety/depression & memory impairment. Pathophysiology resulting into long COVID manifestations is still not completely validated. Researchers have reported ‘immune dysregulation’, ‘autoimmunity’, ‘antigenic mimicry’ & ‘coagulation abnormalities’ are probable pathophysiological mechanism for long COVID. Some of the long COVID effects shown complete reversibility including post COVID lung fibrosis. Reboot system to restore immune dysregulation and recovery in long COVID is real concern. Long COVID symptoms cases are more health conscious and usually follows pattern of doctor shopping due to underestimation by family physicians either due to lack of suspicion or lack of knowledge regarding treatment protocol. Still, we are not having right answer for exact duration of long COVID symptoms and when it will show complete reversibility. Further, it needs ‘birds eye vision’ to pick up and manage cases with long COVID manifestations during routine care in rehabilitation unit.
Keywords:
Long COVID; Joint pain; Fatigability; Immune dysregulation; Autoimmunity; Antigenic mimicry; Coagulation abnormalities; COVID-19
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Copyright © 2023 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0