Corona infections like with Omikron BA.5 can lead to Long Covid. Various symptoms indicate this. When is the best time to go to the doctor?
Berlin – Are the danger and, above all, the effects of Long Covid underestimated? After all, more than 29 million people have signed up in Deutschland infected with the coronavirus. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) points this out. The trend is rising, following all, the dominant Omikron-Subvariante BA.5 even more contagious than previous variants of the coronavirus, which can also increase the chances of long-term consequences following a Covid-19 infection. An infection is often cured relatively quickly. However, symptoms can persist for several weeks following infection.
In this case one speaks of the “Public disease” Long Covid. But what do the long-term consequences of a Covid 19 infection actually mean? What symptoms indicate Long Covid and when is going to the doctor more than advisable?
Long Covid symptoms: tiredness or body aches four weeks following corona infection
Develops from a corona infection, for example with Omicron BA.5, Long Covid, this is characterized by persistent symptoms. This can include memory problems, latent and persistent tiredness, but also recurring body aches.
Long Covid means a period of at least four weeks following the Covid 19 infection, for example with the omicron variant BA.5, which “invites” to reinfection. This distinguishes Long Covid from Post Covid, which refers to a period in which symptoms persist for at least twelve weeks following infection. However, this situation does not have to be a reason for panic. After all, long-term consequences of viral diseases are the norm, according to general practitioner Christoph Specht RTL.
What can long covid symptoms be following surviving a covid-19 infection?
“Almost every viral disease can also show long-term courses. This is very well known from the flu […] So it would be surprising if Corona of all things might not produce any long-term courses,” reveals Specht. In general, body aches, persistent tiredness, headaches, attention deficits, shortness of breath or even the loss of the sense of taste and smell can indicate Long Covid. The RKI points out the following long-Covid symptoms in full:
- Tiredness, exhaustion and limited resilience
- concentration and memory problems
- sleep disorders
- Fever
- Disorders of taste and smell
- speech disorders
- depressive moods and anxiety
- Cough
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- muscle weakness and pain
But: The symptoms mentioned do not only have to be attributed to an infection with the corona virus. After all, many people would also tend to “report long-Covid symptoms, but it has not been proven that the corona infection is actually the cause of the symptoms,” says Christoph Specht. Does what mean specifically?
Do not confuse Long Covid symptoms with Fatigue Syndrome
In the current corona situation, in which one Infection with Omikron BA.5 can be very “violent”., it would be difficult for many people to classify symptoms correctly. In addition, the individual sensitivities would also play a major role. Those affected might, for example, assign fatigue and exhaustion following a Covid infection to Long Covid. Fatigue syndrome can also be the trigger for persistent listlessness.
What is meant by fatigue syndrome?
The term “fatigue” was defined by Gregory Court in 2000 as “significant weariness, exhausted reserves of strength, or increased need for rest disproportionate to any recent exertion”. In Germany, the term is often used to describe a cancer-related symptom. Doctors also speak of “fatigue syndrome” when symptoms of exhaustion are diagnosed. Fatigue also occurs as a long-term consequence of some viral infections. (Source: “Impact of cancer-related fatigue on the lives of patients: new findings from the Fatigue Coalition” by Gregory Court et al)
The general practitioner Christoph Specht does not question whether Long Covid even exists. He also does not want to talk people out of the outlined symptoms. But Specht warns once morest panic-mongering too quickly: “Yes, there are prolonged courses, it would be a miracle if they didn’t exist. But the nocebo effect certainly plays a role as well.” This means that just believing in something negative is expressed in a physically noticeable way. As with possible symptoms of Long Covid.
Everyday life possible despite Long Covid? Expert advises “not to forget life”
However, if the symptoms that occurred during an acute corona infection last longer than four weeks – and you are no longer talking regarding Long Covid, but regarding Post Covid – “you should go see a doctor,” recommends Christoph Specht. Preventing, let alone counteracting Long Covid during the infection period is not possible. The advice of the general practitioner: “Don’t forget life”.
In practice, this means continuing your everyday life as a person affected by Long Covid or Post Covid as quickly and as best as possible. Don’t get too fixated on the symptoms. In principle, one can also be confident that many symptoms will subside once more. Christoph Specht names the loss of taste or the taste disturbance as an example. This would at the Omicron variant and its subvariants, such as the very contagious BA.4 and BA.5also “are only very rarely influenced”.
Long Covid: No treatment methods yet, but many useful tips
A generally effective and officially recognized therapy once morest Long Covid does not yet exist. Depending on the symptoms, the physiotherapist Jesko Streeck would rely on fitness or build-up training. Around 40 percent of his patients suffer from long and post-Covid symptoms. What Streeck can advise: to regularly check your blood pressure and oxygen content during sport.
What is meant by Long Covid?
The RKI refers to “numerous possible long-term health consequences” that can result from a previous infection with the corona virus. These impairments occur either in the acute phase of the disease or only in the course of weeks following infection. It is formulated similarly in the guideline recommendation of the British “National Institute for Health and Care Excellence” (NICE). Long Covid is defined here as “health problems that persist or recur beyond the acute phase of a SARS-CoV-2 infection of 4 weeks”.
“In the activities you do, leave the device on so you can see how far you fall. If you fall off, the result would in principle be respiratory therapy, if you had problems with your heart history – in most cases with high blood pressure – endurance training,” the physiotherapist recommends a fitness tracker. In addition, taking vitamin D supplements that doctors recommend can also help the body heal. The same applies to B vitamins, zinc and folic acid. However, this must be discussed with your family doctor beforehand.
Long Covid: According to a study, the risk of corona reinfections doubles
But caution is also required The risk of Long Covid increases due to the corona reinfections already mentioned. This is indicated by a preprint study by the research team Ziyad Al-Aly from the University of Washington, which has not yet been checked. For this purpose, the scientists evaluated the health insurance data of 257,427 formerly infected veterans of the US Army.
People who had become reinfected would have twice the risk of dying compared to those who were first infected during the acute phase and also in the period six months following diagnosis. There was also a threefold higher risk of being admitted to hospital, as well as a twice as high risk of a secondary disease of the respiratory organs and the cardiovascular system.
