We must take dangers oflongCOVIDseriously

Everyone’s heart must have gone out to the young carer Catherineanne Butler who has been struck down with ‘long COVID’ and found herself unable to breathe and walk (PA, January 5).

As she feels slightly better she is wondering about the safety for the people she works with if she returns.

Ms Butler is one of as many as 10 per cent of people who get COVID who suffer beyond a month, according to some researchers.

Many have not recovered nine months after contracting COVID.

There is a most important point all long COVID sufferers with a particular type of fatigue must first and foremost consider to ensure they do not deteriorate further.

As sufferers of ME (also called chronic fatigue syndrome) know to their cost, if someone has a particular type of fatigue, called post exertional malaise, this can cause them to become much worse after exercise of any kind, due to faulty energy metabolism.

The deterioration may even be up to 48 hours later and in some cases, it may not improve with some sufferers confined to bed.

This very real danger of exercising, rather than resting, is now recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in its recent revision for ME guidelines. Sadly, it is not so far being highlighted to post-COVID sufferers in NICE guidelines.

If this risk is not recognised and inappropriate advice is given to such long COVID sufferers, they risk joining the 20,000 people in Scotland who have

ME, many of whom have been ill for decades.

I would urge people to be kind to themselves, to rest and I would urge health professionals to refer to the latest draft NICE ME/CFS guidelines for information.

Of course, carefully managed exercise is appropriate for some people who have had COVID but if this vulnerable group are given wrong advice or push themselves, the consequences for the country will be severe.

Helen McDade

#MEAction UK

Lettoch Terrace

Pitlochry