When the SARS-CoV-2 virus causes symptoms that persist after the covid-19 disease has ended we have Long Covid.
In addition to the symptoms we have already written about, a new British study adds loss of hair, libido and problems i erections.
The researchers compared about half a million people who recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection before mid-April 2021, who were not hospitalized, with about 2 million uninfected people of comparable age, gender and health status.
After 12 weeks, 62 persistent symptoms were associated with SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, the most common of which were shortness of breath, distortion of smell, chest pain, and fever, but the study also identified memory problems, inability to perform familiar movements or commands, bowel incontinence, erectile dysfunction, hallucinations, and swelling of limbs.
The most common symptoms were anosmia, hair loss, sneezing, difficulty in ejaculation, and reduced libido.
Compared with the uninfected group, those in the infected group were nearly four times more likely to report hair loss and more than twice as likely to report difficulty with ejaculation or reduced libido.
The researchers found that the odds of developing long COVID were higher in younger people, women, and racial minorities (in the United Kingdom).
In a statement, study leader Dr. Shamil Haroon of the University of Birmingham said this research validates what patients have been telling physicians and policymakers throughout the pandemic, which is that the symptoms of long COVID are extremely broad and cannot be fully explained by other factors, such as lifestyle risk factors or chronic health conditions.
To better understand what long covid is:
Bidirectional associations between COVID-19 and psychiatric disorders (2020-11-26)
Link…
Long COVID syndrome, i sintomi continuano per mesi (21/01/2021)
Link…
Long COVID syndrome 2: problemi di memoria e attenzione (26/02/2021)
Link…
Long Covid: disturbi intestinali e astenia possono continuare per mesi (06/10/2021)
Link…
Il long-Covid negli adolescenti in uno studio Cnr-Ibbc (29/06/2022)
Link…
Cosa ci ha fatto il lockdown: uno studio aiuta a capire (23/04/2022)
Link…
For more information
nature medicine
Symptoms and risk factors for long COVID in non-hospitalized adults
Link…
MDN
This post is also available in: Italian