Latest Update for Long-COVID Treatment, Experts Share

Long COVID, also called post-COVID condition (PCC), is defined as the continuation or development of new symptoms three months after initial COVID infection, with those symptoms lasting at least two months with no other cause found.

A person can be affected by long COVID even if they are not infected with the severest form of the disease.

Mixture of many conditions

It’s important to understand that COVID long It is a mixture of several conditions. Dr. Jacob TeitelbaumThe Epoch Times spoke with, an internist board-certified and nationally recognized expert in the fields chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep, fibromyalgia and pain.

“If somebody had a stroke, heart attack, loss of smell, or post-viral chronic fatigue syndrome after COVID,” He explained that “these are all being lumped together under the long-COVID diagnosis.”

The number of long-COVID symptoms can be quite extensive, with more than a dozen. 200 symptoms It has been reported that these factors can have a significant impact on the quality of life for those who are affected.

“But it is critical to realize that these are all distinct diagnoses that each have their own required treatments,” Teitelbaum said.

The exact number of people living with long COVID is not known. There are no data systems that track post-COVID-19 conditions.

The most recent study was a Global systematic analysis Study of long-COVID incidence found that approximately 145,000,000 people had any one of these three conditions in 2020 or 2021. “symptom clusters”—fatigue, respiratory difficulties, and cognitive issues.

51% of patients experienced fatigue, 61% had respiratory problems, and 35% suffered from cognitive issues. Researchers observed that these symptoms occurred in nearly four percent of all COVID infections.

Overall, findings indicated that 15 percent of those affected continued to experience long COVID at 12 months, and disease severity was associated with the duration of COVID symptoms.

Patients with milder cases of COVID-19 recovered faster than those with severe infections.

The Treatment of Long COVID is Moving Forward

Dr. Richard Becker The Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine has reported that progress in post-COVID conditions was made in five areas.

• Acknowledgment that the condition does indeed occur in up to 20–30 percent of people with COVID-19

• After a mild case or severe COVID-19, it is possible to recognize that long COVID can be present

• Patients with long COVID should be able to identify specific symptoms or groups.

• Appreciation that many patients have cyclic symptoms—improvement followed by recurrence of symptoms

• The impact of physical, mental, or psycho-social stressors on these symptom cycles can occur every few weeks and last for several days at a time

Becker pointed out that long-term COVID patients often recover with support from their family, friends, and employers.

This excludes any pre-dated COVID-19 infections that are underlying or worsening. “very important,” He explained that there may be treatments for pre-existing conditions.

Recently Published Research It was found that preinfection psychological distress was strongly correlated with an increased risk for long-term COVID and daily living impairment. The American Diabetes Association The American Diabetes Association (ADA) stated that people with diabetes have a four-fold higher chance of developing long COVID.

Pre-existing conditions such as these can provide significant relief to people suffering from post-COVID symptoms.

Becker said that there are no specific treatments available for all post-COVID conditions.

Clinical trials are being conducted by the NIH, medical society, and pharma. “Answers, prevention, and treatments will emerge from these large-scale initiatives,” Becker.

One such example is Trial One trial is currently analyzing the effectiveness of a HIV drug called “leronlimab” to treat COVID-19’s long-term symptoms. Another is investigating whether it can be used in combination with other HIV drugs. Paxlovid Can be used to treat COVID for long periods.

Post-viral fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and pain are what most people are referring to when they talk about long COVID, observed Teitelbaum, who said the majority of people with the post-viral chronic-fatigue-syndrome component of long COVID have fatigue, “brain fog,” Pain that is widespread

Paresthesias are also symptoms that can be experienced, including shortness of breath, numbness, tingling, or tingling in your fingers, called paresthesias.

People often feel short of breath after COVID. This can cause them to be concerned about lung or heart disease.

“But this is usually not the case,” Teitelbaum said that COVID is a long-term condition that responds well to treatment.

The COVID-19 treatment, which was so controversial at the height of pandemics, may provide relief for chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers.

The most recent systematic review of 52 studies found that the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome four weeks after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms was over 45 percent.

“What differentiates these post-COVID patients from other causes of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia is that many improve considerably with the medication ivermectin,” said Teitelbaum.

A small study looked at 33 adult patients with persistent or post-acute symptoms of COVID-19 who were treated with ivermectin. Findings show that 94 percent of that group experienced partial or total clinical improvement after only two doses of the drug.

Ivermectin also helped patients with the chronic pain and tenderness of fibromyalgia, which some experience after COVID vaccination.

“Very surprisingly, I’ve also seen several people with post-COVID vaccine fibromyalgia, and for reasons that I cannot explain, this group responds very well to treatment with ivermectin,” said Teitelbaum. “I have not seen secondary CFS or fibromyalgia occur from other vaccines, except in cases where longer than the usual course of hepatitis B vaccine was given.”

A recently published study (pdf) co-authored by Teitelbaum of 188 people showed that people with post-viral fibromyalgia also improved considerably with a unique, highly potent form of ginseng called Korean red ginseng.

“We have not seen the same benefits from other forms of ginseng,” he noted.

Recovery From PCCs Is a Long Journey for Some

According to Becker, many of his patients who have improved acknowledge that the journey was longer and more challenging than they expected.

“They have also commented that adapting to mitigate symptoms is very important, specifically periods of rest—mental, physical, and emotional,” he said.

Becker acknowledged the challenges inherent in understanding the information being released regarding PCCs.

“A vast majority of our patients recognize the importance of sound information coming from the medical and scientific communities, as well as the potential harm of misinformation and untested therapies that come with a high cost and misleading promises of rapid cures,” he said.

Becker pointed out that his patients have also been highly supportive of research undertakings that have the potential to help others carrying the burden of long COVID.

Epoch Health articles are for informational purposes and are not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Please consult a trusted professional for personal medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment. Have a question? Email us at [email protected]

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