Anecdotally, I’m seeing significant numbers complaining about health issues after SARS-CoV-2 infections, w/the majority NOT presenting with what people believe are traditional LC symptoms (fatigue, breathlessness, joint pain etc).
What % of LC cases are actually “traditional”?🧵
What % of LC cases are actually “traditional”?🧵
The majority assume LC only comes in the form of fatigue etc, which is demonstrably untrue. This is just one way in which the disease can present itself.
This causes many to believe the number of LC cases to be far lower than reality & even believe they don’t have it themselves.
This causes many to believe the number of LC cases to be far lower than reality & even believe they don’t have it themselves.
We’ve got people proudly stating “I definitely don’t have long covid” all the while complaining about the new ringing in their ears that developed recently, or the panic attacks that started out of nowhere, or the memory lapses that keep occurring.
Health issues post-infection are so wide ranging that defining them specifically as Long Covid is extremely challenging, especially with so much ambiguity involved.
Meanwhile, everyone continues to believe that LC is rare because they’re only looking for the “traditional” cases.
Meanwhile, everyone continues to believe that LC is rare because they’re only looking for the “traditional” cases.
From what I’m personally observing, I’d reckon the more “traditional” long covid cases make up only a relatively small percentage of actual LC cases.
Another issue is how do we even describe T1 Diabetes after infection, for example, as Long Covid? It feels somewhat illogical.
Another issue is how do we even describe T1 Diabetes after infection, for example, as Long Covid? It feels somewhat illogical.
Nobody is ever going to say “I’ve got long covid” rather than “I’ve got diabetes”, when they’ve got diabetes.
They have Covid induced diabetes. Would they say “my long covid led to diabetes”? Well, what if diabetes is their only sequela, w/out a long covid illness preceding it?
They have Covid induced diabetes. Would they say “my long covid led to diabetes”? Well, what if diabetes is their only sequela, w/out a long covid illness preceding it?
Long Covid is ill defined and poorly understood by the majority of the population.
If your mental health declines after infection, again, you’re unlikely to consider it LC, and certainly not state as such.
Hence the percentage rates we see for LC are vastly underestimated.
If your mental health declines after infection, again, you’re unlikely to consider it LC, and certainly not state as such.
Hence the percentage rates we see for LC are vastly underestimated.
Many post covid health complications that are health issues in and of themselves, like diabetes/tinnitus/MCAS/high cholesterol etc are likely only ever going to be described/considered as their namesakes, not Long Covid.
Is the term “Long Covid” becoming a stumbling block here?
Is the term “Long Covid” becoming a stumbling block here?
A cardiac arrest/stroke/blood clot months down the line isn’t going to ever be officially counted as LC either, yet we know SARS-CoV-2 increases the risk of all the above for 3 years after infection.
The takeaway? Long Covid is far more prevalent than any of us think.
End.
The takeaway? Long Covid is far more prevalent than any of us think.
End.
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