Out of all the people who have tested positive and recovered from coronavirus infection, more than 50% experience post-COVID symptoms also known as long COVID, a study has found. 

The study, which was conducted by a research team from Pennsylvania State University in the US, found that half of COVID recovered patients suffer from long COVID symptoms including tiredness, difficulty in breathing, chest pain, pain in joints and loss of smell and taste.

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The results of the study showed that both adults and children can experience adverse health issues for six months or even longer after recovering from COVID-19 infection.

As per the researchers’ outcome, these long COVID complications can affect a person’s lifestyle, organ functioning, overall well being and mobility. These patients can feel sick long after recovering from the infection.

The study analysed 57 glocal studies that involved 250, 351 unvaccinated people who recovered from the COVID-19 infection between December 2019 through March 2021.

How do these patients feel?

According to the study, these people reported weight loss, fatigue, fever, joints pain, distorted or lost sense of smell and taste. The study also noted that one in five survivors experienced a decrease in mobility.

Additionally, six in ten COVID-19 survivors had chest imaging abnormality and a quarter of the patients had breathing difficulties. Chest pain and palpitations were also some of the commonly reported conditions.

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Apart from that, one in five patients experience rashes, hair loss, loss of appetite, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Why these lingering symptoms?

The exact reason behind this mechanism is yet not clear and need further evaluation, but Pennsylvania State University researchers believe that an immune-system overdrive prompted by the virus, lingering infection, reinfection or increase in the production of antibodies can be the reason.

The best way to deal with these symptoms right now is to get vaccinated, follow protocols to save yourself from further infections and strengthen one’s immunity system with proper diet and exercise.