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Before he had Covid-19, Brendan Delaney, the 57-year-old chair of medical informatics and decision making at Imperial College, could cycle 150 miles in a day.
Covid changed that, but not because he had a severe case of the disease https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
Covid changed that, but not because he had a severe case of the disease https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
Like many healthy people, he figured his symptoms, a mild fever and a cough, would pass soon enough. Instead, he experienced debilitating aftereffects, such as:
Fatigue
Breathlessness
Fevers
Seven months later, he is still not back to normal https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
FatigueBreathlessnessFeversSeven months later, he is still not back to normal https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
He canât imagine getting back on a bike and says that if he pushes himself too hard, he ends up in bed with a fever for a couple of days.
He considers himself lucky that heâs able to work. Many other long Covid sufferers cannot https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
He considers himself lucky that heâs able to work. Many other long Covid sufferers cannot https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
As a second wave of infections grows, so it follows that the number of long Covid cases is bound to increase.
Although this clearly has implications for public health and the economy, it has been almost nowhere in the broader policy debate https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
Although this clearly has implications for public health and the economy, it has been almost nowhere in the broader policy debate https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
So far, we've focused largely on minimizing deaths and hospitalizations.
But most long Covid patients werenât hospitalized and didnât have pre-existing conditions. This should throw some cold water on the idea of herd immunity https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
But most long Covid patients werenât hospitalized and didnât have pre-existing conditions. This should throw some cold water on the idea of herd immunity https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
As lockdown fatigue set in, more and more people supported the idea of disposing restrictions and allowing immunity to build up among the young while shielding the vulnerable.
Going in this direction would be far more costly than many perhaps realize https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
Going in this direction would be far more costly than many perhaps realize https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
âWe need to control this virus not because of the risk that Granny may catch it and die, or your uncle may end up in ICU, but because fit, healthy people without any comorbid conditions who are young can end up having their lives wrecked,â Delaney says https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
We know from experience with other viruses that effects can be long-lasting:
2003 SARS outbreak
Ebola
MERS
Glandular fever (caused by the Epstein-Barr virus)
Itâs similar with todayâs coronavirus https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
2003 SARS outbreakEbolaMERSGlandular fever (caused by the Epstein-Barr virus)Itâs similar with todayâs coronavirus https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
Conventional medicine doesnât have a good record on responding to conditions like long Covid.
For years, sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome, Lyme disease, endometriosis and other conditions often fought lonely battles for attention and medical care https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
For years, sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome, Lyme disease, endometriosis and other conditions often fought lonely battles for attention and medical care https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
The most reported symptoms of long Covid sound like they could be any number of illnesses:
Extreme fatigue
Breathlessness
Heart palpitations
Gastrointestinal pain
Joint aches
Memory and focus issues
The full list is much, much longer https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
Extreme fatigue Breathlessness Heart palpitations Gastrointestinal pain Joint aches Memory and focus issuesThe full list is much, much longer https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
Nailing down exact numbers isnât easy, but 10% of Covid Symptom Study app users, used by more than 4.3 million U.K. participants, reported symptoms lasting for more than three weeks after infection.
Some 60,000 reported having symptoms three months in https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
Some 60,000 reported having symptoms three months in https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
Increasing infection rates have ushered in fierce debates over the relative costs, benefits and ethical considerations of various lockdown measures.
Long Covid may alter that calculus further, depending on the impact on household income and productivity https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
Long Covid may alter that calculus further, depending on the impact on household income and productivity https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
A 2004 study estimated the impact of chronic fatigue syndrome (similar symptoms to long Covid) said it probably led to:
â A 37% decline in annual household productivity
â A 54% reduction in labor productivity
â An annual lost value of $9.1 billion a year https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
â A 37% decline in annual household productivity
â A 54% reduction in labor productivity
â An annual lost value of $9.1 billion a year https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
How the long Covid costs stack up will depend on prevalence, duration and degree of incapacity.
It does seem that symptoms slowly get better, but itâs too early for a tally of long-term effects such as fibrosis of the lungs or compromised immune systems https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
It does seem that symptoms slowly get better, but itâs too early for a tally of long-term effects such as fibrosis of the lungs or compromised immune systems https://trib.al/nMhJr0P
