Post COVID Symptoms: A Complex and Persistent Reality

Abstract

COVID-19 is a global pandemic that began in late 2019 which was caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. This virus was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019. This virus primary spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks or breathes. People get affected with this virus by touching surfaces that are contaminated by the virus and then touching their faces. Fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath and loss of taste or smell are some of the common symptoms. After recovering from the initial infection some people may experience on-going symptoms like fatigue, brain fog and shortness of breath which was phenomenally known as long COVID. Post COVID symptoms commonly known as long COVID, have become an undeniable aspect of the pandamic's legacy. Even though, post COVID symptoms may vary widely from person to person. They are fatigue & exhaustion, respiratory issues, cognitive dysfunction (brain fog), sleep disturbances, joint & muscle pain and mental health struggles. Those who were once active may struggle with simple physical activities such as walking or climbing stairs due to the post COVID symptoms which have a great impact on their daily life. Post COVID symptoms can be resolved on their own within a period of few months. Self monitoring of the symptoms is also required by the patients by seeking the help of the health care professionals which can be useful to improve their quality of life.