An expert of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said post COVID-19 condition which is also called long COVID-19 had around 200 symptoms, but shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction and fatigue were the most common ones.
Post COVID-19 condition is the situation where a patient continues to have symptoms after recovery.
Participating in WHO’s Science in 5 programme with Vismita Gupta- Smith, WHO lead- clinical management Dr. Janet Diaz said chest pain, trouble speaking, anxiety, depression, muscle aches, fever, loss of smell and taste are among other symptoms in post-COVID-19 condition as described by patients.
It is a programme for WHO experts to explain the science related to COVID-19.
She said there were reports about this condition lasting for three to nine months in different instances, but more studies should be done to understand when these symptoms would resolve.
Commenting on treatment, she said care should be multidisciplinary in nature involving primary caretaker, relevant specialists, rehab professionals, social care workers, psychosocial workers, and mental health professionals.
Asserting that the reason for the development of such symptoms is yet to be studied, she said specific treatment could not be found until that was done. She said that prevention of the disease was the key by mask-wearing, cleaning hands and physical distancing.(Daily Mirror)