Long-term effects of Covid-19 have caused many individuals who have recovered from the virus to seek medical attention, sometimes requiring emergency hospitalization due to post-Covid-19 syndrome.
What Long-term Effects Does Post-Covid-19 Cause?
According to health experts, Covid-19 can affect individuals of all ages, and all patients are at risk of experiencing post-Covid-19 complications.
At the annual scientific conference of Medlatec Group titled “Quality Management and Prevention of Covid-19” held on February 18, PGS, TS, BS Hoàng Thị Phượng, Senior Lecturer and Deputy Head of the Internal Medicine Department at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and a respiratory expert at Medlatec, reported that according to global studies, only 10-20% of individuals infected with Covid-19 exhibit symptoms of post-Covid-19 syndrome. This syndrome can appear within 3 months of infection and can last for more than 12 weeks.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus attacks all organs in the body during the acute phase. However, the post-Covid-19 phase may involve complications from multi-organ damage, often seen in patients with multiple symptoms after recovering from Covid-19, such as: fatigue, chest tightness, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction, stress, and persistent loss of taste and smell… with respiratory symptoms being predominant. Symptoms may emerge after recovery from the acute Covid-19 infection or may persist from the initial illness. Symptoms can also change or recur over time.
10-20% of individuals infected with Covid-19 exhibit symptoms of post-Covid-19 syndrome.
The causes of post-Covid-19 conditions, according to PGS, TS, BS Hoàng Thị Phượng, are due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing inflammatory reactions – cytokines – fibrosis – coagulation disorders. This is compounded by complications from prolonged hospitalization and underlying health conditions. Notably, multi-organ damage, pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary embolism are the two most significant and severe pulmonary complications in post-Covid-19 syndrome. “Individuals requiring hospitalization for treatment, especially those in Intensive Care Units (ICU), are more likely to experience post-Covid-19 syndrome, whereas mild, asymptomatic patients are rarely affected. Those at high risk for post-Covid pulmonary fibrosis include older individuals, males, those with prolonged hospital stays, and those with pre-existing interstitial lung diseases, requiring oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation,” emphasized PGS, TS, BS Hoàng Thị Phượng.
Who Should Seek Post-Covid-19 Medical Evaluation?
In reality, many individuals recovering from Covid-19 are very concerned and wish to seek post-Covid-19 evaluations. So, who should seek post-Covid-19 medical attention?
According to PGS, TS, BS Hoàng Thị Phượng, while many people experience post-Covid-19 syndrome, it does not mean that all individuals infected with Covid-19 need to seek medical evaluations, as this would be quite wasteful. “Only those exhibiting symptoms of post-Covid-19 should seek medical attention. For those who were hospitalized with pneumonia or treated in ICU, doctors will schedule regular follow-up appointments at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after discharge. For mild cases who were not hospitalized, follow-up should only occur if post-Covid-19 symptoms develop,” advised PGS, TS, BS Hoàng Thị Phượng.
PGS, TS, BS Hoàng Thị Phượng also noted that according to data from the Office for National Statistics in the United Kingdom, 30% of adults infected with Covid-19 experience post-Covid-19 syndrome, while only 15-20% of children are affected. This is due to children’s immune systems being relatively robust, and their recovery rates are higher since they generally do not have underlying health conditions, making it less concerning.
PGS, TS, BS Hoàng Thị Phượng further mentioned that children with Covid-19 typically do not exhibit severe symptoms. In cases where children have been vaccinated, the incidence of severe symptoms significantly decreases, and patients nearly recover completely, especially children.
“Although the rate of severe symptoms in children infected with SARS-CoV-2 is extremely low, parents should not be complacent and must pay attention to their children’s respiratory symptoms. If a child has a fever above 38.5 degrees Celsius and does not respond to fever-reducing medication after two doses, they should immediately contact a healthcare facility for assistance. Parents should monitor their child’s breathing patterns: children under 12 years should have a breathing rate above 30 breaths per minute, while infants up to 1 year should exceed 60 breaths per minute. If a parent is unsure how to count their child’s breaths, they should observe for flaring nostrils, retraction of the chest, rapid breathing, or fussiness, and contact healthcare providers for prompt support. The number of individuals treated at home, including children, is currently significant, so the role of caregivers for young children is very important,” PGS, TS, BS Hoàng Thị Phượng stated.
Post-Covid-19 syndrome is a health concern that the public is increasingly worried about, especially for patients who have just regained their health after infection. To ensure the best health management, individuals should visit healthcare facilities for health check-ups and comprehensive evaluations after recovering from Covid-19.
If respiratory symptoms occur in post-Covid-19 syndrome (shortness of breath, prolonged cough, chest pain, decreased respiratory function, limited physical activity, etc.), visiting healthcare facilities will help in early detection and management of pulmonary complications following Covid-19.
Additionally, a comprehensive strategy is needed to assess and care for the post-Covid-19 condition in patients, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration in managing, treating, and monitoring patients after Covid-19 infection due to multi-organ damage. Special attention should be given to early and appropriate functional rehabilitation.
Three Groups Who Should Seek Post-Covid-19 Evaluation
- Individuals with underlying health conditions (such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, metabolic disorders, etc.).
- Individuals aged 60 and over, as they are at risk of having multiple undiagnosed comorbidities that could worsen following Covid-19.
- Individuals who required hospitalization during their Covid-19 infection (those with respiratory failure, requiring oxygen therapy, high fever necessitating hospitalization, etc.).
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