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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsResearchers warn covid-19 could cause debilitating long-term illness in some patients
The long-term illnesses that can follow viral infections can be devastating and are devastatingly common. In 2015, the nations top medical advisory body, the Institute of Medicine, estimated that between 800,000 and 2.5 million U.S. residents live with the illness or illnesses awkwardly named myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). An estimated three-quarters of these cases were triggered by viral or bacterial infections.
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In addition to emerging reports of damage to lungs, kidneys and hearts, covid-19 patients are complaining of ongoing crushing fatigue, muscle pain, cognitive problems and other symptoms that anyone with ME/CFS is very familiar with.
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But patients who have experienced post-viral fatigue syndrome advise the newly ill to rest, rest and rest some more, as returning to normal activities can trigger relapses. If symptoms continue for six months or longer, post-viral fatigue syndrome can convert to a diagnosis of ME/CFS, which is usually lifelong and often devastating. Up to 25 percent of ME/CFS patients are housebound or bedbound for years. There are no treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
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The personal and societal costs of ME/CFS are devastating. In 2015, the Institute of Medicine estimated a $24 billion annual U.S. burden in medical costs and lost productivity. For Beth, who was working as a product manager for a software company in San Francisco with a computer science degree from MIT, her lost earnings potential over the past decade can likely be measured in the millions of dollars. Instead of paying taxes on those lost wages, she is drawing monthly Social Security Disability Insurance. For Brian, the week before he became suddenly ill, he wrote a front-page story for The Washington Post, where he was a science writer, on a major advance in theoretical physics, the discovery of the Higgs boson. Six months later, his undiagnosed post-viral illness had gotten so bad he could not remember a four-digit number long enough to tap it into his phone.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/could-covid-19-cause-long-term-chronic-fatigue-and-illness-in-some-patients/2020/05/29/bcd5edb2-a02c-11ea-b5c9-570a91917d8d_story.html
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,309 posts)You're supposed to believe it's just like the 'flu. You're supposed to be calling for the economy to "open up". You're supposed to be screaming about "Antifa" and "ominous weapons".
Thank you for posting information and not doing what the GOP wants.
SunSeeker
(51,545 posts)As noted in the article (emphasis mine):
Too many discussions of covid-19 focus on the diseases death rate while neglecting the risk of long-term health problems. Called morbidity, this measure of the burden of long-term disease is so important that the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions most read publication is Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. To effectively plan for a post-covid future, the nation must fund long-term research on survivors and account for the morbidity associated with the novel coronavirus. Instead, there are states such as Pennsylvania categorizing every covid-19 patient in its borders still alive after 30 days as recovered. That oversimplification will underestimate the true human and financial costs of the U.S. epidemic. Some covid-19 patients with kidney damage will need expensive dialysis for a lifetime; some will have lung damage; others will be disabled by post-viral ME/CFS.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,309 posts)Athletic people described their ordeal with COVID-19, which was bad enough, but the aftermath was devastating. They were no longer capable of the activities they enjoyed before.
crickets
(25,959 posts)once trump is gone. Joe Biden is going to be a very busy man.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)picture to start coming together to indicate how pervasive and serious chronic aftereffects may be, but crickets.
Cracklin Charlie
(12,904 posts)My appetite didnt really come back to normal until about the time we went into lockdown, March 20th, or so. I still havent regained all of the weight I lost.
This time in lockdown has down wonders for my health. Rest is vital.
SunSeeker
(51,545 posts)It would be good to know if you had it. I'm glad you're improving.
Cracklin Charlie
(12,904 posts)My daughter is starting to rumble about returning to work. Before shutdown, I was the babysitter for my three granddaughters. I think we all had Covid-19 starting with my preschooler in early January.
I told her today that if she wants me to come back to work in the next school year, she will have to buy me an antibody test. She agreed with me.
So, thanks for the info!
Initech
(100,054 posts)I'm someone who is so used to getting out and going to my favorite places, socializing with friends and relatives, going to shows, concerts and sporting events, traveling, and so on. Not being able to do any of this for the last 3 months has just been driving me batshit crazy.
I keep thinking eventually the virus is going to burn out and we'll be able to move again without restrictions. But it's going to be a long while before that happens.
Cha
(297,029 posts)SunSeeker
(51,545 posts)Cha
(297,029 posts)Kauai has a new bus schedule starting today. Our buses will run every hour Even on weekends and Holidays. They've always run every 2 hours on weekends and holidays.
During the Stay At Home Policy the buses were running every 2 hours all week long. Still "No Mask No Ride" policy, but,, we're looking at this as Progress.
Visitors have to be quarantined in their hotels for 2 weeks under strict rules.
VIDEO: Gov. David Ige announces 14-day quarantine for Hawaii visitors to extend past June 30
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/05/28/breaking-news/watch-live-2/
SunSeeker
(51,545 posts)Enjoy it while it lasts.