People who experience long COVID have reported more than 200 symptoms that span across 10 organs of the human body, according to a global study published in the EClinicalMedicine journal. The research included the participation of more than 3,700 people, who reported 203 types of symptoms in their prolonged sickness. 

Out of the multiple symptoms reported by the subjects, the most common ones were cognitive dysfunction, mental exertion and fatigue. On the other hand, less common symptoms included itchy skin, heart palpitations, memory loss, altered menstrual cycle, diarrhoea, visual hallucinations among others. 

Also Read: WHO says senseless greed prolonging COVID-19 pandemic, slams rich countries

The study, which was conducted at Britain’s University College London (UCL), included a survey of 257 questions and outlined eligibility criteria for participation with a minimum age of 18. A positive or negative test for COVID-19 was not required to enter the study. 

Athena Akrami, a neuroscientist at the famed institution, said in a statement, “While there has been a lot of public discussion around long COVID, there are few systematic studies investigating this population”, according to reports from PTI. 

The statement added, “Relatively little is known about its range of symptoms, and their progression over time, the severity, and expected clinical course (longevity), its impact on daily functioning, and expected to return to baseline health.”

In the study group, a large number of people reported prolonged symptoms, about 91% saying that their symptoms persisted for more than 35 weeks.

Respondents with symptoms over six months experienced an average of 13.8 symptoms in month seven. During their illness, participants experienced an average of 55.9 symptoms, across an average of 9.1 organ systems, according to reports from PTI.

However, the researchers admitted that the findings of the study may not be not exactly on target as it included people recalling their experiences and not reporting them in real-time. Moreover, a sampling bias may be possible as the data for the research was collected online and not in person.