The World Health Organization (WHO) is sounding the alarm about long COVID. According to WHO, the long-term effects of the Corona virus can be serious, affecting every part of our body. Symptoms can range from shortness of breath to heart disease. However, much more remains unknown.
Since we don't know the full picture yet, this is another reason why we should focus on reducing transmission. WHO officials insist, preventing oneself from becoming infected will be much better in terms of any effects, short-term and long-term. Find out more about long COVID that has been conveyed by WHO, quoted from Live Mint.
Live Q&A on #COVID19 and Omicron sub-variant BA.2 with Dr @mvankerkhove and @DrAbdiMahamud. #AskWHO https://t.co/NVQMa8HHk7
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) February 8, 2022
What is long COVID?
Long COVID is usually diagnosed a few weeks after COVID-19 infection. Maria Van Kerkhove of the WHO said any long-term effects usually appear about 90 days after the initial symptoms of infection have disappeared. The long-term effects could be weeks, it could be months, it could be years.
What are the symptoms of long COVID?
Noting the severity of the long-term effects of the virus, Van Kerkhove explained, it affects all organs of the body, and each organ has a different effect, the severity of which ranges from people having difficulty breathing to getting tired easily so they can't exercise anymore. Several studies have also shown the risk of heart disease as a post-COVID symptom.
What are the signs of a serious long COVID-19?
When people talk about COVID, they think of it as an upper respiratory disease. In fact, it is more of a systemic disease. Literally, it affects every part of the cardiovascular system, said WHO official Dr. Abdi Mahamud.
"The risks and complications of COVID, if we look at it not as a respiratory pathogen, of course that's how it gets in. But it affects every part of your body because of the blood vessels. It can cause vasculitis," he said.
Vasculitis is inflammation of the blood vessels that results in changes in the walls of the blood vessels. Vasculitis can cause vessel walls to thicken and narrow, cutting off important blood supplies to tissues and organs. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, weight loss, and muscle and joint pain.
Can you experience long COVID after infection with Omicron?
The Omicron variant is something new again in this time of pandemic, so it's probably too early to answer that question.
"There's really no indication that we're going to see a difference in the percentage of people who may have long COVID-19. We don't yet have a full understanding of the long COVID-19," said Van Kerkhove.
Noting that more research is needed on long COVID-19, WHO officials concluded, "we need good research on this. We need good care, clinical care to deal with the short-term effects, and we need to make sure that there is good rehabilitation," they concluded. .