Persistent covid or long covid is a new disease suffered by those patients who have overcome the acute phase of an active SARS COV2 or COVID-19 infection with persistence of symptoms for several months or maintained.
There are many clinical studies to assess the cause of the persistence of symptoms and it seems that the etiopathogenesis is secondary to an inflammatory state triggered by the persistence of the S1 protein of the SARS COV 2 virus in monocytes, which perpetuates the elevation of cytokines and vascular involvement causing persistent symptoms.
What symptoms characterize persistent Covid, and how long must symptoms persist to be considered persistent?
The symptoms are multiple and affect different devices and organs, these are the most frequent:
- Fatigue/asthenia 95%.
- General malaise 95%.
- Headaches 86%.
- Muscle aches 82%.
- Shortness of breath 79%.
- Joint pain 79%.
- Lack of concentration and attention 78%.
- Fever 75%.
- Cough 73%.
- Diarrhea 70%.
At the present time there is no exact time defined to consider it as such. However, any patient who, after the acute phase, presents persistent symptoms should consider the possibility of seeing a specialist in Internal Medicine to evaluate the possible diagnosis of persistent Covid.
What is the percentage of patients with persistent symptoms?
According to studies it is between 10 and 20% of patients.
What risk factors seem to indicate an increased risk of prolonged symptoms?
This is a subject under study. It does seem that affected cases are more frequent in middle-aged women (30-50 years). To date, no specific risk factor has been detected.
What are the consequences of persistent Covid?
These patients suffer from general symptoms that make it a chronic disease and make them unable to return to a normal life, having to live with the symptoms on a daily basis with all that this entails.
What treatment is applied to patients who maintain symptoms for a long period?
The treatment follows several lines in a global way:
- Pharmacological treatment: it is still very empirical (without proven scientific evidence) and bronchodilators are used. Vitamin B12 complexes, analgesic and/or anti-inflammatory drugs are also administered; vitamin D in those cases where there is a deficit. Statins are starting to be used due to the endothelitis or vasculitis that may be associated.
- Rehabilitation and physiotherapy treatment: to the extent necessary to relieve osteoarticular symptoms and fatigue with respiratory physiotherapy.
- Psychological treatment: these patients need psychological support to adapt to the presence of a chronic disease and to live with their symptoms as well as possible.