- Heart inflammation
- Impaired lung function
- Other lung-related abnormalities
- Diminished kidney function
- Neurological abnormalities
Can children get long COVID?
For children, most of the symptoms are short-lived. However, a small portion of children had long-lasting symptoms. The good news is that 98 percent of the children who had lingering symptoms recovered after eight weeks, according to a study from King’s College London.
Can the vaccine help?
About half of people with long COVID had an improvement in symptoms after getting vaccinated. Experts say this could be because the vaccine possibly reset their immune system response, which helps the body attack any remaining fragments of the virus.
Although vaccinated people can get long COVID, doctors say it’s rare.
Additionally, it can be useful for those who don’t have the virus to get vaccinated because they are most likely to have mild symptoms if they do contract it.
How do you know if you have long COVID?
Researchers are currently working on a blood test that would be able to determine if someone has long COVID. In the meantime, if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above you should visit your doctor immediately. Your doctor will run tests to rule out any other possibilities such as diabetes, thyroid function and iron deficiency before making a diagnosis.
READ: What Makes the Delta Variant so Dangerous?
Treating symptoms
Guidelines on how to treat long COVID are still evolving, however, there are some steps you could take:
- Physical therapy: If you experienced any lung-related abnormalities, you can undergo physical therapy and respiratory or pulmonary rehabilitation after your condition stabilizes. This can provide benefits to patients that have not been hospitalized. Make sure you express your symptoms to clinicians in order to receive the appropriate care.
- Seek mental health services: People with long COVID, who experienced anxiety, depression, and PTSD should undergo screening and get the appropriate mental health service. Those who experience social isolation and stigmatization may also opt to seek social services support.
- Seek a team of medical professionals: Having a team of medical professionals that make decisions and manage your long Covid is necessary for successful rehabilitation because treating your symptoms in an uncoordinated manner can make your condition worse.
You can also opt to try self-reporting and remote patient monitoring. This involves using wearable devices that track vital signs. This can help clinicians identify at-risk individuals.