With COVID-19, evidence is mounting that some people who have had relatively mild symptoms at home may also have a prolonged illness. It is estimated that nearly 75% of patients complain of prolonged signs and symptoms for weeks or months after making a full recovery (testing COVID negative).5 Long haulers, as they are being called, can experience mild to severe symptoms. Support groups on social networking sites have a lot of long-haulers, comprising COVID-19 survivors, who talk about and discuss the struggle to get out of bed, or to work for more than a few minutes or hours at a time, making this a real problem with COVID-19 survivors.
Overwhelming fatigue, palpitations, muscle aches, pins and needles and many more symptoms are being reported as after-effects of the virus. Over the past nine months, an increasing number of people have reported crippling exhaustion and malaise after having the virus.1 Professor Paul Garner2, of The Infectious Diseases Division at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, described his experience of COVID-19 as a roller coaster of ill health, extreme emotions, and utter exhaustion. A recent study published in Journal of American Medical Association found that in patients who had recovered from COVID-19, 87.4% reported persistence of at least 1 symptom, particularly fatigue and dyspnea.3 Post-viral fatigue was also seen in a quarter of those infected with the original severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus in Hong Kong in 20034 which makes it important to understand the post-COVID-19 fatigue. Evidence from previous coronavirus outbreaks, especially the SARS epidemic, suggests that these effects can last for years.1
A study3 from Rome with people post-COVID-19 recovery found that 53% had reported fatigue and 43% had shortness of breath an average of 2 months after their symptoms started. Similarly, a report6 from China showed that 25% had abnormal lung function after 3 months, and that 16% were still fatigued.
Speaking on the subject, eminent clinician and Past President of the Indian Medical Association, Dr. KK Aggarwal mentioned that while cytokine fatigue occurs in the first 9 days and continues up to 28 days, fatigue from COVID-19 is being seen to last for up to 3 months leading to signs of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which is a severely debilitating condition. He further added that this could start with the first signs and symptoms of COVID-19 or right after the patient recovers and could be due to prolonged exacerbation of symptoms after physical, cognitive or orthostatic exertion or stress e.g. unrefreshing sleep after sleeping for many hours. calculations, reasoning short memory, spatial disorientation are also some of the signs. Worsening of symptoms after maintaining an upright posture can also be seen in these patients. Details can be accessed on https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=898525210554041 When it comes to treating chronic fatigue, the emphasis previously has been on effective treatment of the underlying disease, with the understanding that tackling the root cause would help ease the fatigue. However, for most viral infections, there is no specific treatment, and because COVID-19 is so new, research is still underway in its prevention and treatment.
Source:
1.Nature 2020;585, 339-41.
2.https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/05/05/paul-garner-people-who-have-a-more-protracted-illness-need-3.help-to-understand-and-cope-with-the-constantly-shifting-bizarre-symptoms/
4.JAMA. 2020;324(6):603-05.
5.Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(22):2142-2147.
6.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/coronavirus-symptoms-why-7.breathlessness-and-fatigue-are-two-most-post-covid-common-symptoms/photostory/78632446.cms
8.EClinicalMedicine 2020;25, 100463.