COVID-19 was the pandemic that swept the globe, changing lives forever. While the worst appears to be over, a lingering shadow remains. A condition described as ‘long COVID’ is affecting people and it’s not yet fully understood.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), long COVID occurs in people with a history of probable or confirmed infection, usually three months from the onset of COVID-19. Symptoms last for at least two months and can’t be explained by another diagnosis.

In Australia, we’re suffering.

Research published last year highlighted that, out of 94 per cent of the COVID cases diagnosed in New South Wales between January and May 2020, 80 per cent of those recovered within one month. However, about 5 per cent continued to experience symptoms three months later.

The symptoms

Symptoms of long COVID include, but are not limited to, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction, and in some instances, seizures and sexual dysfunction.

Symptoms flare up following COVID recovery and can fluctuate over time. For people who’ve been hospitalised with COVID, recovery can take longer. In fact, studies have shown that fewer than a third of patients feel fully recovered a year later.

Further research has highlighted the more concerning effects of long COVID. These include damage to the heart, lungs and kidneys and increased risk of blood clots.

So, what does the future hold?

The number of people who will be affected by long COVID remains unknown. However, some researchers predict that cases in Australia could hit 10,000 by the end of the year. Furthermore, some experts warn that long covid could result in a generation affected by disability.

We can only hope that’s not the case.

Living with long COVID

Reading about the effects of long COVID is one thing. Living with it is another.

In an interview with ABC news, Matt Schneider from QLD described how long COVID has changed his life.

When he was hit with COVID, Matt suffered with fevers and flu like symptoms. But after a few days in bed, he bounced back and thought the worst was over. That changed a month later.

"What started as a relatively annoying cough developed into quite severe fatigue,” Schneider told the ABC.

"The coughing kept building up, over time that became more and more debilitating … at its worst a few weeks ago [I was] struggling to sleep, no appetite, struggling to eat, struggling to keep the food down that I did eat," he said.

Since then, Schneider has had ongoing flare ups.

"The symptoms as recently as Easter had me in bed for almost all of those four days, I think I was out of bed for about three hours over that long weekend."

Following chest X-rays, CT scans and blood tests Schneider was prescribed steroids and antibiotics for a secondary lung infection. He’s been improving with rest but says that treatment options for people struggling with long COVID would be "a great investment".

"We've come out of the first couple of phases of the COVID pandemic and this is a new thing for us to collectively think about," he said.

The future

Long COVID remains something of a medical mystery, with researchers the world over currently working towards finding potential treatments and cures.

A UK-based trial called HEAL-COVID is currently testing two drugs that target the cardiovascular system in people who have been hospitalised with COVID. Other drugs being trialled for more general purpose include immune suppressing drugs and antivirals.

Only time will tell what the answer may be.

If you or anyone you know is suffering with long term COVID symptoms, particularly chronic fatigue, reach out for help. Your local health provider and support services such as the NDIS will offer support to help you manage your symptoms and navigate daily life during this time.

Author - Unidex Healthcare