More Information About Long Covid
On November 11, 2021 I wrote about Long Covid, which can occur in up to half of the patients who develop Covid-19. It is defined as residual symptoms which last more than 4 weeks after the onset of a Covid-19 infection. There are many different symptoms that make up Long Covid, and they often last for more than a year. It is now clear that Vaccinations reduce the risk. See the Long Covid information: http://www.paperandthreads.com/2021/11/see_below.php
Long Covid can occur after mild or moderate infections, but the exact incidence is unknown. It can even occur in a small number of vaccinated people with breakthrough infections. A recent study of approximately 1500 vaccinated health care workers in Israel demonstrated that 7 of 39 breakthrough patients developed Long Covid symptoms for more than 6 weeks after infection. A recent large study in London just reported that the incidence of Long Covid could be reduced by 50% by 2 doses of vaccine. In a study of Veterans here in the US 11% of unvaccinated Covid patients developed Long Covid and it only occurred in 5% of vaccinated patients. Vaccination also reduced Long Covid symptoms in a small number of previously unvaccinated infected patients. See Below
NIH funded a large study in order to determine all aspects of the risk factors, development, and treatment of Long Covid ( the trial is named RECOVER). These studies will also collect data on vaccinated children and adolescents. One study of more than 6700 adolescents found that about 30% of those who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 had 3 or more symptoms 3 months after diagnosis compared with 16% of a control group that tested negative. Many of the symptoms of long Covid occur in healthy people - like headache, fatigue, and muscle pain. In randomized controlled, double blind studies the placebo group almost always reports some symptoms that are similar to those of the treatment group - making conclusions about cause and effect difficult. Hopefully the individual programs that are funded through RECOVER help to elucidate the mechanism of disease, prevention, and treatment of Long Covid.