Long COVID symptoms, pathophysiology and possible mechanisms: Still, we are learning!
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 Professor, Internal Medicine, MIMSR Medical College, Latur, Maharashtra, India.
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical and Medical Research, 2023, 04(01), 053–065.
Article DOI: 10.53346/wjapmr.2023.4.1.0019
Publication history:
Received on 20 February 2023; revised on 24 March 2023; accepted on 27 March 2023
Abstract:
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 some cases irrespective of disease severity or hospitalization. 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 (ten in number) 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’ and ‘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.
Keywords:
Long COVID; Joint pain; Fatigability; Chest discomfort; Shortness of breath; Hair loss; Chest pain; Weight gain; Anxiety/depression; Memory impairment
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