Chronic fatigue could be triggered years after infection

COVID-19 may trigger post-viral fatigue syndrome in some patients, experts have warned, amid growing evidence that an infection could have significant long-term health repercussions.

While initial reports focused on the impact coronavirus has on the respiratory system, medical papers published over the last few weeks suggest the contagion can get deep into the vascular system and even the brain.

“We’re at the very primitive stage in terms of understanding the long-term effects of this pandemic,” said Dr Harvey Moldofsky, former professor of Psychiatry and Medicine at the University of Toronto’s Center for Sleep and Chronobiology. “But it’s clear it doesn’t just attack the lungs, it’s everywhere.

“Based on my experience with Sars, I am deeply concerned our definition of ‘recovered’ is far too narrow. It’s likely that some patients will experience chronic fatigue syndromes for months or even years after an initial infection,” Dr Moldofsky told The Telegraph.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), triggers symptoms including extreme fatigue, muscle or joint pain, headaches and unrefreshing sleep.

The condition is poorly understood, but there is evidence that people can develop CFS/ME following a viral infection – such as viral meningitis or Epstein-Barr virus, which causes glandular fever.

A study led by Dr Moldofsky following the Sars outbreak in Canada in 2002 to 2003, also found some patients continued to have symptoms similar to CFS/ME for years afterwards.

However, Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said the proportion of Covid-19 patients with chronic fatigue may be lower because Sars “tended to be a more severe illness”. He added: “It is far too early to estimate what proportion may go onto develop chronic fatigue, as the formal diagnosis requires symptoms to last for at least six months.”