For most patients, “surviving” coronavirus is not the end of the painful journey. They face a new challenge - “recovery”. Many patients who returned to their homes are struggling from residual symptoms, unable to get back to their everyday lives. According to the medical journal published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), among 143 acute COVID-19 patients from April 21 to May 29, 2020, 53.1% reported having fatigue, 43.4% had difficulty breathing, 27.3% had joint pain, and 21.7% had chest pain. The study also found that 87.4% of patients recovering from COVID-19 had at least one persistent symptom.  Patients are dealing with physical, neurological, cognitive and emotional issues even after surviving the virus. 

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Shortness of breath is one of the most common residual symptoms that patients are experiencing. Patients may leave the hospital with scarring or inflammation that still needs to heal in the lungs. This leads to pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease that occurs when lung tissue is damaged. The thickened, stiff tissue makes it difficult for the lungs to function properly. As pulmonary fibrosis worsens, one can experience shortness of breath. 

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Chronic fatigue and brain fogs are other symptoms that are frequently reported. Although a scientific explanation to these symptoms has not been found yet, lots of patients are reporting that they have cognitive problems, such as having issues with memory and concentration. Researchers are assuming that the virus might have caused a dysfunction in the central nervous system. 

PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is also a common symptom for patients. Experts say that emotional issues may be heightened for Covid-19 patients because of their days spent hospitalized without visits from family and friends. The mental disorder is leading to serious distress and disability among survivors. Survivors showing signs of PTSD would undergo treatment to prevent nightmares and flashbacks. 

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Doctors often recommend taking anticoagulants for patients who are returning home. This is to prevent blood clotting inside one’s body. Coronavirus has the ability to infect cells in various parts of one’s body: gastrointestinal tract, the cardiovascular system, skin, kidneys, nervous system, etc. This triggers not only an inflammatory cascade but also an out-of-control cascade of blood clotting in some people. Blood clots could lead to a stroke that permanently damages the brain or, if the clot goes to the lungs, a pulmonary embolism that destroys lung tissue. Danger still lingers for patients who have already “survived” the virus.  

 

Society should be aware of the post COVID syndrome and find a way to help the survivors recover. “Recovering” from the virus and being able to return to one’s life is as important as “surviving” coronavirus.