Long COVID can be of four types. We should identify its top symptoms to know if we are suffering from it or not.
The infections related to COVID are mild now but the long-term effects are still to be worried about. This is being termed as long COVID. Research is still going on about how long this infection lasts and what are its symptoms. A recent study reveals that there are four subtypes of this infection, whose many of the symptoms are serious.
What is Long COVID and its Symptoms?
The definition of long COVID is still evolving. According to some researchers, when the symptoms of this infection persist or new symptoms appear even after four weeks of the initial infection, it is termed a Long Covid. While some researchers define it as symptoms persisting for at least three months.
The symptoms of this deadly infection include difficulty concentrating, cough, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, insomnia, depression, anxiety, joint pain, heart-related issues, and loss of smell and taste.
The Sub Types
The latest study says that people who suffer from this infection fall into at least one of the following conditions.
- Conditions affecting the cardiac and kidney systems
- Conditions impacting the respiratory system, sleeping patterns, and anxiety problems
- Conditions impacting musculoskeletal and nervous systems
- Conditions affecting the digestive system
Among the above-mentioned subtypes, the most common was the one impacting cardiac and kidney systems as around 34 percent of the patients fell into this category. While 33 percent of the patients fell into the second category in which they experience respiratory issues, sleep issues, and anxiety problems.
While 23 percent of the patients fell into the third category where conditions impacted their musculoskeletal and nervous systems and the remaining 10 percent of patients had problems related to the digestive system.
COVID Reports
An estimate of around 1.5 million people in the UK was suffering from the symptoms of this infection, in the month of March. As per World Health Organisation, during 2020 and 2021 at least 17 million people in Europe suffered from its symptoms even after months of recovering from the initial infection.
Recovery
According to a study, most symptoms from long COVID may clear up within a year for those people who suffered mild initial infections. The British Medical Journal reported that although the long COVID phenomenon has been feared and discussed since the beginning of the pandemic, it was observed that most health outcomes arising after a mild disease course remained for several months and returned to normal within the first year.
While those who suffered from severe infections must keep a watch on the long-term symptoms. Special care in terms of lifestyle must be followed.
