2023-10-11 10:55:13
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — Do you feel exhausted even after recovering from an illness? The reason may be due to a “long-term cold,” according to a new study.
The researchers found that, as is the case with “long Covid,” when symptoms persist after the disease has resolved, other respiratory infections also affect people who believe they have recovered from a cold.
Lead study author Giulia Vivaldi, an epidemiologist from Queen Mary University of London, said: “This study is important because it not only underscores the enormous impact that Covid-19 can have (in the long term), but also highlights that people “People with other respiratory infections may also struggle to recover from an acute attack.”
According to a study conducted in 2022, 1.3% of children and 6.9% of adults reported having long Covid, which researchers defined as the appearance of symptoms that last for a minimum of three months after infection with the disease.
Vivaldi explained that the latest scientific study published in the journal EClincialMedicine on Friday, affiliated with the periodical The Lancet, surveyed the opinions of more than 10,000 people and asked them to report whether they had each of the 16 known symptoms of long-term Covid infection.
The researchers also inquired about whether the participants had had a Covid-19 infection, another respiratory infection, or neither.
According to the new study, people who had Covid-19 and those who had other respiratory infections were more likely to have persistent symptoms of the disease compared to those who had not had either since May 2020.
The study stated that symptoms included fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, stomach problems, cough, and sleep problems.
Vivaldi confirmed that the study took into account other health problems that may have affected the appearance of these symptoms.
Long history with little research
The study indicated that researchers are still unable to determine how long the “long cold” lasts compared to “long Covid,” however they hope that the new findings will stimulate further research to understand, diagnose and treat post-infection syndromes.
For his part, Dr. David Strain, associate professor and honorary advisor at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, said: “Although (the study) is among the first to explore this condition prospectively, it is not a new phenomenon.”
Strain added that at the turn of the twentieth century, the 1918 influenza pandemic led to symptoms that lasted for decades in many people.
“Today in the UK, around 280,000 people are living with myalgic encephalomyelitis (also known as chronic fatigue syndrome), many of whom report a benign primary viral illness as the cause,” Strain said in a written statement.
Vivaldi pointed out that previous research on persistent symptoms has largely focused on serious diseases, adding that the “Covid-19” pandemic was one of the few times that medical research did not focus solely on people treated in hospital.
“It took a patient, strong voice to bring long-term coronavirus to the attention of the public and the medical community,” Vivaldi said in an email.
“In honor of these patients, we need to ensure that we do not lose the momentum we have in long-term coronavirus research, and take this opportunity to build our understanding and knowledge of post-infection syndromes in general,” she added.
While there is still more research to be done in order to learn how to relieve symptoms, it is clear from the experience of long Covid that persistent symptoms should be taken seriously.
For his part, Dr. Peter Openshaw, professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London, who was not involved in the study, said: “People should expect a slow return to normal life and not expect an immediate return to full activities after infection (acute respiratory infection) caused by any disease.” a reason”.
In order to prevent infection with long-term Covid, a study conducted last February showed that it may be beneficial to get enough nutrients, sleep adequately, not smoke, moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages, and engage in physical activity for 150 minutes on a daily basis. At least weekly.
However, even healthy children and teenagers are at risk of developing this condition.
Openshaw added in a statement that it is important not to “underestimate the significant disability experienced by some people with long Covid.”
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