Experts convened through the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine released an updated definition of long Covid on Tuesday. In its report, the organization explained CL as “a chronic illness related to an infection that occurs after SARS-CoV-2 infection. “and is provided for at least 3 months as an ongoing, recurrent, remitting, or progressive, disease affecting one or more biological systems. They ask that this definition be followed through government officials, physical care workers, employers, and educators.
The panel identified that long Covid can result from severe, mild, or even asymptomatic infections. He also noted that long COVID “does not require laboratory confirmation or other evidence of the initial infection. “Finally, they did not specify a maximum time after infection. that CL can develop.
The etiology of long Covid remains unknown. The researchers hypothesized that the spots may simply lead to its progression, adding some form of autoimmunity caused by the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection or hijacked reservoirs of the virus in the body. Other researchers have hypothesized that alterations in the gut microbiome related to Covid-19 may simply lead to the progression of long Covid.
The number of people who have gone through long Covid is also unknown. In one report, researchers estimated that this could be just 5. 8 million young people in the United States. Other researchers have estimated that this figure is much lower. Researchers from the Netherlands have estimated that around 12. 5% of adults with Covid-19 have post-Covid sequelae. American researchers recommend that the prevalence be less than 7%.
These disparate estimates are largely a result of the ill-defined nature of long COVID. More than two hundred symptoms, affecting all organ systems, have been related to this disease. People report brain fog and fatigue. Existing situations such as diabetes or heart disease may worsen. This could manifest as a continuation of an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, or symptoms could spread weeks or months after infection. For some people, symptoms go away in a relatively short period of time. In others, symptoms persist. No biomarker related to long Covid has been identified.
With a standardized definition of long Covid, knowledge from other studies can be more easily compared. More importantly, a standardized definition can lead to better patient care. In fact, Dr. Harvey Fineberg, chair of the NASEM committee, commented, “The lack of a consistent definition of long COVID has hampered studies and delayed diagnosis and patient care. He went on to note that “our committee hopes that this unique definition, developed with input from all scholars and patient communities, will teach the public about this. “a widespread and far-reaching disease. “»
A common definition of long Covid won’t make it go away. This will not relieve any of the symptoms. But it’s possible that other people with long Covid will get the medical care they deserve.
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