One in 10 people will still suffer symptoms months after coronavirus infection
MOST patients with symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue or low energy after Covid-19 infection recover in around 12 weeks – but one in 10 people will continue to have problems for months.
Ciara Dolan, a respiratory clinical specialist physiotherapist who works with post-Covid patients, said it is important to give hope to people that the majority of patients recover from lingering symptoms.
“They can have breathlessness, fatigue, low energy, and need to rest quite a lot. Sometimes even mild Covid-19 illness can cause these issues,” Ms Dolan of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP) said.
“It takes a while – around four weeks to three months – to recover. The first two weeks focus on resting and then after two weeks they can start activity.”
The British Medical Journal released guidelines in January for returning to physical activity after Covid-19.
It recommended waiting until a person is seven days free of symptoms before resuming activity, starting with at least two weeks of minimal exertion such as moving around the house or garden.
Ms Dolan said: “For the first few weeks they are resting and not pushing themselves. But once symptoms are well controlled they can start exercising.
“If they feel very breathless they are meant to stop and then start again when they feel better.
“Anyone with breathlessness or chest pain should go back to their GP within three months.”
Ms Dolan will be among a panel of specialists who will take part in a patient information session organised by the ISCP tomorrow night at 7pm and aimed at people recovering after Covid-19.
‘Recovery Post-Covid-19: What We Know Now’ is free and the public can register to join in the online event which also includes clinical psychologist Dr Patricia Byrne.
Ms Dolan said that “most of the time we are advising people to get back to the activity they had before, walking for five minutes a day and building it up”.
She said people should listen to their bodies and remember that Covid-19 affects people differently and that for some the return to fitness will take longer than others.
If they get symptoms, such as more severe breathlessness or dizziness, they should take a break.
Ms Dolan said around 10pc will have persistent symptoms after three months.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged countries to explore rehabilitation for the mediumto long-term consequences of Covid-19 and to gather information on long Covid more systematically.
WHO has now produced a standardised form to report clinical data from individual patients after hospital discharge or after their acute illness to examine the medium- to long-term consequences of Covid-19 infection.
It has also set up technical working groups to build a consensus on the clinical description it calls “the postCovid-19 condition” and to define research priorities.
Speaking at the first of a series of seminars, WHO director general Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus highlighted the “three Rs” – recognition, research, and rehabilitation.
Recognition of the postCovid-19 condition was increasing, he said, but still not enough research was being carried out.
He said countries needed to show commitment and include rehabilitation in their healthcare service.
“Long Covid has an impact on the individual, on society and on the economy,” Dr Ghebreyesus warned.