In the case of the coronavirus, many people do not know that the consequences of the virus can be as dangerous as the infection itself. Post-covid syndrome means that symptoms appear 12 weeks after infection. With the help of experts, we summarise the signs you should see a doctor with.
The WHO estimates that 10 per cent of those infected have a post-covid syndrome. According to another research, it can affect up to 30 per cent of the patients. Even though the coronavirus pandemic has been a part of our lives for more than one year, many questions regarding the infection remain unanswered. It is unclear why some people only have mild or no symptoms when they get infected. Also, we do not know why new symptoms persist or appear 12 weeks after the infection, writes portfolio.hu.
Hungarian research has not yet been conducted on the topic of the post-covid syndrome; however, according to Emil Toldy-Schedel, director-general of St. Francis Hospital, 30 per cent of patients in the covid rehabilitation ward have at least one of the post-covid symptoms. This is also the reason why more and more private providers offer post-covid clearing packages.
Common symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, palpitations, high heart rate, muscle pain, persistent fatigue, memory impairment, anxiety, depression and mood swings.
“Fatigue is a characteristic symptom following viral infections, but it can also indicate heart damage caused by the coronavirus, so the examination is recommended,” said Ágnes Bencze, chief cardiologist at Buda Health Centre. So far, 40 people have been examined at the Swiss Clinic, and half of the patients have had lung damage, inflammation, and heart damage. Tamás Székely, head of Kelen Hospital, also reports a growing demand for post-covid examination. They currently have a waiting period of 4 weeks. Complications related to pneumonia, myocardial damage, and blood clots were the most common conditions during the 200 monitorings.
Csilla Havrancsik, a cardiologist at Doctor Rose Private Hospital, also reports that many people have been found to have residual symptoms of pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, and signs of past myocarditis. József Füstös, an internal physician at the Wáberer Medical Complex Cases Centre, says that less than 10 per cent of the 500 subjects found symptoms of the post-covid syndrome.
These conditions and diseases can occur regardless of age and gender.
According to index.hu, Miklós Kásler, Minister of Human Resources, announced that the professional protocol for post-covid syndrome has been completed. Based on this, several Hungarian hospitals are preparing for the screening and treatment of post-covid syndrome. In Budapest, for example, patients are admitted to the South Pest Centre Hospital and the Heim Pál Children’s Hospital, but a similar ward has recently opened in Debrecen and Szeged.
Tamás Székely advises everyone who has had the infection: if one’s physical condition does not reach the pre-infection level or the complaints can be experienced 4-6 weeks after the infection is confirmed – see the doctor. As we described, Common notable symptoms include prolonged fatigue, shortness of breath, and suffocation on exertion. It would be especially important for those who experience symptoms even with a lower load.