Have you or someone you know experienced lingering symptoms after recovering from COVID-19? If so, you may be experiencing what is known as long COVID. We spoke with Joe Gastaldo, MD, OhioHealth Infectious Disease Specialist about Long COVID – its symptoms, causes and risks.
Long COVID is a syndrome where individuals continue to experience symptoms even after their COVID-19 infection has cleared. These symptoms can be quite vague and varied, ranging from neurological conditions and mental fogginess to respiratory complaints, fatigue, and rashes.
“The symptoms are quite different from person to person, they can come and go,” says Dr. Gastaldo. “They can be mild one day that could be more severe the next day. And that’s the part that’s challenging for patients and health care providers, especially since there’s no simple test to diagnose long COVID.”
So, how common is long COVID? We have seen quite a bit of it, with numbers ranging anywhere from 10% to 20% of people who get COVID experiencing the condition. Dr. Gastaldo tells us those who have been hospitalized or had a higher severity of illness from COVID are more likely to develop long COVID.
Although the cause of long COVID is not yet fully understood, it is believed to be linked to inflammation. Inflammation can occur in various body parts and can be caused by remnant pieces of the virus or from inflammation activated by someone’s immune system.
The duration of long COVID can also vary widely, lasting for weeks, months, or even years. At this time, the only treatment is supportive care, which can be frustrating for physicians and patients alike.
“As a physician, you see someone of the office, it’s, it’s more satisfying for the patient and the provider to see them, know what the diagnosis is, have a treatment, and that patient gets better”, says Dr. Gastaldo. “Long COVID isn’t that way, because we don’t have a good test for it. It’s a clinical diagnosis. And at this time, the only treatment is really supportive care.”
The good news is that being vaccinated can lower your chances of developing long COVID. Recent studies also suggest that the Omicron variant may be causing less long COVID, likely due to increased immunity in the population.
If you think you may be experiencing long COVID, it’s essential to get plugged into providers who can help manage your symptoms and provide supportive care. You can also find community and support through resources like the OhioHealth Dempsey Center, which offers virtual seminars on various long COVID topics.
To reduce your risk of developing long COVID, it’s essential to continue taking precautions against COVID-19. This includes staying up to date on your vaccination and seeking outpatient treatments if you have an underlying health condition and contract COVID-19.
Long COVID is a real and challenging condition that can have a significant impact on those affected. By understanding the symptoms, risk factors, and prevention strategies, we can all work to manage and mitigate the risks of this syndrome.
To learn more about long COVID resources offered at OhioHealth, contact The Dempsey Family Education and Resource Center at (614)788-6115.
