Long Covid - A Year of Bad News

Nine million Americans report that they currently have Long Covid.

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/survey-18-million-americans-say-they-have-long-covid

person holding head and chest

“Long COVID [is] a condition with no known cure and is defined by long-lasting symptoms following a case of COVID-19. More than 200 symptoms are associated with Long COVID, commonly including fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, intolerance to exercise, chronic pain, and more.”

https://time.com/6309054/long-covid-recovery-rare/

The statistics and the stories are sobering, and full recovery remains elusive. Here is a selection of important news stories over the past year.

September 2023: "Long COVID is a roller coaster.”

"Ask Patricia Anderson how she is doing, and you probably will not get a routine answer. 'Today, I’m working and I’m fine,' she said on a recent Tuesday. 'Saturday and Sunday, I was bedridden. Long COVID is a roller coaster.' …

The virus caused extreme chills, shortness of breath, a nervous system disorder and such cognitive decline that, for months, Anderson was unable to read a book. 'I was very sick for a long time, and I never really got better,' she said."

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/long-covid-poses-special-challenges-for-seniors/

August 2023: Long COVID Recovery Remains Rare.

One doctor says: "A small number, no more than 10%, have stubborn symptoms that don’t get better, no matter what. … A big chunk see some improvement, but remain sick. And [only] about 15% to 20% report full recovery."

https://time.com/6309054/long-covid-recovery-rare/

"still sick" pillow

July 2023: Doctors Unable to Work

The report at the following link is from a survey of 600 doctors with long covid. It found that nearly half of them can no longer work full time.

https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj.p1529

October 2022, from the Washington Post:

"On [Oct. 5, 2022], the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, … released data on long covid. [They found] that more than 80 percent of people with long covid experience limitations in day-to-day activities. 'We want to highlight that there are quite a few people in the country whose day-to-day activities are still significantly impacted by long covid.”

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/pulse/long-covid.htm?

September 2022: Long Covid Is Not Just for Adults

The researchers conducted MRIs of the lungs. "Our study demonstrates widespread functional lung alterations are indeed present in children and adolescents."

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/09/some-kids-teens-have-long-term-lung-damage-after-covid-19

person in MRI

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