‘Long cold’: People may develop long-term, chronic symptoms weeks after a respiratory infection

This article was originally published in English

Symptoms of respiratory illnesses such as the common cold virus, flu or pneumonia may last more than four weeks after initial infection, new research suggests.

Scientists at Queen Mary University of London analyzed data from more than 10,000 people to compare long-term symptoms of COVID-19 and other illnesses.

Although long-term COVID-19 is now a recognized disease affecting millions of people, few studies have compared it with long-term symptoms after other acute respiratory illnesses.The results have been published in The Lancet’s eClinicalMedicine magazine.

Researchers found that people develop “long cold” symptoms such as cough, stomachache and diarrhea weeks after infection.

However, people who have recovered from COVID-19 are more likely to experience dizziness, vertigo, and problems with their sense of taste and smell.

“Our findings shed light not only on the impact of long-term COVID-19 on people’s lives, but also on other respiratory infections. Ignorance can hinder notification and diagnosis of these diseases,” said lead author Giulia Vivaldi in stated in a press release.

Another study published in April this year observed persistent symptoms in patients infected with the flu calling it the “long flu.”

Long-term cold “difficult to diagnose”

The researchers noted that people with long-term symptoms were more likely to be female, lower class, or have comorbidities.

Frontline workers are also statistically over-represented, with data suggesting severe primary infection may be a risk factor.

“As research into long-term COVID-19 progresses, we must take the opportunity to investigate and consider the lasting effects of other acute respiratory infections,” Vivaldi said.

He added that it is difficult to diagnose and treat due to the lack of diagnostic tests and the variety of symptoms that can occur.

“This study is important because it shows that recovery from acute respiratory infection (ARI), regardless of the cause, can be slow and people should expect a slow return to normalcy rather than expecting an immediate return to full activity after any IRA. reason”, Peter Openshaw saysProfessor of Experimental Medicine at Imperial College London said in a statement.

Openshaw, who was not involved in the study, warned that the term “long cold” should not downplay the very severe disabilities some people suffer from long-term coronavirus infection.

Experts also point to the need to “ensure all people with ongoing symptoms get the support they need” and avoid under-diagnosis.

The next step for researchers is to identify the underlying reasons why some people are more susceptible to long-term colds than others.