Coronavirus: 50% of patients with mild COVID experience symptoms 6 months after infection, claims study
Mild COVID can lead to symptoms 6 months after infection
Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, long COVID and/or post-COVID syndrome has become a common area of concern. While the increase in the number of long haulers in severe COVID-patients was already known, a recent study has claimed that 50% of COVID patients with mild and moderate symptoms also go on to experience medical complications 6 months after infection.
Long COVID in patients with mild, moderate symptoms
Previously a Lancet study had reported that over 75% of people suffering with the novel coronavirus face symptoms that arise 6 months after recovery. 63% of the individuals who took part in the experiment most commonly reported symptoms of fatigue and muscle ache, accompanied by anxiety, depression, pain, and sleep difficulties.
While the majority of the cases of long COVID was prevalent in patients suffering with severe COVID-19 infections, a recent study published this month in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection states that half of the patients with mild, moderate COVID symptoms experience complications after 6 months.
According to study
The study observed 103 people over the age of 18 who had coronavirus between April and October 2020. The volunteers involved in the experiment suffered with mild and moderate symptoms, indicating that while they were not asymptomatic, they weren't hospitalised either.
The participating group were questioned four times during the research.
Six months following the start of the study, 46% had at least one lingering symptom. The most common symptoms included fatigue (22%), loss or change in the sense of smell and taste (15%) or difficulty in breathing (8%). As per reports, 44% of people had initially experienced headache, 41% fever, 39% muscle aches and 38% dry cough.
The final report listed 14 symptoms, 12 of which were already recorded as common symptoms of COVID by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The most common symptom reported was loss of appetite, as per the study.
According to the study, “Long COVID is emerging as a phenomenon where patients have long-term unresolved symptoms." “These could be prolonged symptoms of COVID-19, or a post-COVID syndrome for which dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system has been proposed, although further research is needed to establish the causes," the study added.
Duration of long COVID symptoms
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), one in five coronavirus patients exhibit symptoms "for a period of five weeks or longer".
The same report stated that one in every 10 COVID patients showed symptoms for upto 12 weeks and longer.
Most common symptoms of long COVID
While it is important to understand the time frame that it takes for COVID-19 to become a long COVID scenario, it is also important for each and everyone of us to identify the signs of long COVID, so as to treat it efficiently. That said, here are some of the most common symptoms you can experience even after having recovered from the illness.
- Brain fog
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- Chest pain
Risk of long-term COVID
In some cases, people may also develop complications that may affect their organs. These symptoms are less common but have been reported. The symptoms may include:
Anxiety, memory and concentration difficulties
Inflammation of the heart muscle
Abnormal lung function
Problems with smell and taste
Severe kidney injury
Rash and hair loss
Sleep issues
Mood swings