Thread by @ThePhySoc

"Long COVID is a patient made term, experienced by non-expectant risk groups. Approximately 1 in 10 experience #longCOVID not fully recovering"- @Dr2NisreenAlwan of @unisouthampton in the first session at our #LongCOVIDConference 🧵1/7
#CountLongCovid

In the initial reporting, there was a large focus on death and survival. But "LongCOVID does not paint a black and white picture," says @Dr2NisreenAlwan. The grey area of chronic post-viral illness is missing from the narrative. 2/7
#LongCOVIDConference

Even now, #LongCOVID is unacknowledged by UK policy makers and is missing from health policy discussions, despite 1.3 million people suffering from the condition. (data from ONS survey) 3/7
#LongCOVIDConference

"Internationally, public health agencies need to agree how to do the reporting accurately, picking up the right research and agreeing on treatment." - @Dr2NisreenAlwan 4/7
#LongCovidConference

Stigma and stereotyping is a contributing problem – Top professional athletes have had to stop their careers despite the stereotype that those suffering from Long COVID are middle-aged women. #LongCOVID is apparent in all age groups. 5/7

Key workers have the highest prevalence, those with non lab confirmed diagnosis of #LongCOVID are likely to experience loss of income. 6/7
#LongCOVIDConference

But there is a silver lining:
Here we have an event that generates the potential to address post-viral illnesses that have historically received little attention. "A paradigm shift needs to affect all of these conditions." 7/7
#LongCovidConference #LongCOVID