Some patients suffering from "COVID-19," caused by the novel coronavirus, experience long-lasting symptoms, even after recovering from the illness. Although these cases are limited compared to the majority of those infected with the pandemic, doctors have raised alarms about the threat these symptoms pose to patients' health. According to respiratory specialist Fida Shuaib at the Baylor College of Medicine's COVID-19 clinic in Texas, it is likely that people may be suffering from long COVID and not realize it because they have not acquired the knowledge to identify themselves as having it, as reported by "Business Insider." Shuaib added that long COVID manifests with a wide range of symptoms, making it difficult for doctors to detect.
A British study found that one in ten survivors of the pandemic will experience long-term repercussions that extend beyond the usual duration, which is three weeks. It is still unclear whether the symptoms of long COVID are directly caused by the virus or if some result from stress or trauma from the infection and pandemic. However, it is crucial to discuss the following 11 symptoms with a doctor if they occur:
1. **Brain Fog**: A cognitive disorder affecting a person's ability to think and perform various daily activities, where the sufferer feels mentally unclear as if they are engulfed in fog. An analysis revealed that one in five long COVID patients, lasting more than six months, experienced this condition.
2. **Fatigue**: A Chinese study indicated that six out of ten hospitalized survivors reported recurring fatigue six months after recovery.
3. **Sleep Issues**: One in five COVID-19 patients faces difficulty sleeping six months post-infection, according to an analysis of 51 studies.
4. **Shortness of Breath and Persistent Cough**: Shortness of breath and a persistent cough are common among those recovering from the disease, even after six months. This finding comes from a study involving over 73,000 U.S. veterans.
5. **Cardiac Issues**: Arrhythmias are common among COVID-19 survivors, who face an increased risk of heart failure, atherosclerosis, and even blood clots within six months following infection.
6. **Neurological Symptoms and Mental Disorders**: A large-scale study found that more than one-third of COVID-19 survivors experience neurological symptoms or mental disorders within six months of infection, with anxiety and mood disorders like depression being the most prevalent.
7. **Loss of Smell**: Among those who lost their sense of smell after infection, about one-third did not regain this sense for two months or more, according to an American survey.
8. **Loss of Appetite and Diarrhea**: A small study in China found that over 40% of hospitalized patients reported gastrointestinal problems three months post-infection, with loss of appetite, nausea, acid reflux, and diarrhea being the most common symptoms.
9. **Skin Rashes and Hair Loss**: An American veteran study indicated that survivors reported skin rashes six months following infection. A study in China documented hair loss among 22% of patients six months after being hospitalized for COVID-19.
10. **Joint and Muscle Pain**: A survey published last December found that nine out of ten individuals reported symptoms such as muscle and joint pain one month after infection, with these symptoms lasting at least seven months for some.
11. **Diabetes**: Long COVID patients had a 39% higher risk of developing diabetes within the six months following their infection, according to a U.S. study.
12. **Kidney Disease**: Those who survived the pandemic were also more likely to suffer from acute kidney diseases.
