It seems that not only COVID-19 can have a long form of disease, but other health issues as well. Check out the latest reports about this below.
Long cold, explained
The medical condition known as Long COVID has been a topic of research and discussion for several years since the onset of the pandemic. However, a recent study by researchers from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) has shed more light on the issue.
According to their findings, common illnesses that are typically associated with the colder months can lead to long-lasting symptoms.
These symptoms are similar to those experienced by individuals with Long COVID, and this discovery could help explain why some people report long-term symptoms after an acute respiratory infection, despite testing negative for COVID-19.
The study was published in the Lancet’s eClinicalMedicine journal in early October, and it highlights the importance of understanding the long-term effects of respiratory illnesses.
The researchers believe that their findings could have significant implications for public health, particularly in the context of the ongoing pandemic. By identifying the factors that contribute to Long COVID, researchers may be able to develop more effective treatments and preventive measures for this debilitating condition.
Long-term cold symptomatology
A recent study revealed that patients who tested negative for COVID-19 but had acute respiratory infections may still experience long-term symptoms for at least a month after the infection. These symptoms include stomach pain, coughing, and diarrhea.
The study was conducted between May 2020 to Oct. 2021 and involved over 10,000 cases of acute respiratory infection, including cases where patients were infected but tested negative for COVID-19.
According to the researchers, both types of infections were associated with a higher prevalence and severity of long-term symptoms compared to no infection.
Professor Adrian Martineau, chief investigator of COVIDENCE UK, and a clinical professor of respiratory infection and immunity at Queen Mary University of London, said that the study’s findings may resonate with people who have experienced prolonged symptoms even after testing negative for COVID-19.
More severity could mean long covid
The study found that individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 were more likely to experience long-COVID symptoms such as problems with taste or smell, lightheadedness, or dizziness compared to those who tested negative for respiratory infection.
The severity of the COVID-19 infection was positively correlated with the likelihood of long COVID symptoms, with nearly 6% of those in the mild category experiencing long COVID compared to approximately 50% of those classified as severe.
Symptoms persisted for at least four weeks and up to 12 weeks, particularly if the symptoms were severe, which was the case for 22% of participants.
When examining participant characteristics across the three categories of severity, researchers observed that females, individuals with lower economic status, frontline workers, and those who were overweight or obese, and had other chronic health conditions were more likely to experience long COVID as symptom severity increased from moderate to severe.
