Dry cough, kidney failure, fatigue and shortness of breath are some of the symptoms we should keep in mind to identify a possible COVID-19 infection; but little is known about what happens in our body during the disease and what repercussions it has on our health.

COVID-19 has proven to be a persistent rival and is not content with infecting us, but also causes a general deterioration in our health. It leaves after-effects that echo in our body after we heal and can even trigger new diseases. The World Health Organization (OMS) states that “in some people, some symptoms may persist or recur for weeks or months after initial recovery.”

Around 80% of infected patients, according to the OMS “They recover from the disease without needing hospital treatment. Around 15% develop a serious illness and require oxygen, and 5% reach a critical state and require intensive care.” The symptoms, which can be fatal and are present during the disease, affect the cardiac system, the respiratory system and the nervous system among other conditions such as psychological disorders.

The duration of symptoms during infection, according to the health magazine Medical Writing “It takes an average of 30 days to be eliminated from the body after the first positive test result and an average of 36 days after the first symptoms appear,” however, it is very important that there is care for long-term recovered patients to ensure full recovery.”

Some patients who recover may experience side effects, new diseases associated with the systems that were compromised during the illness. Medical Gazette, a specialized health portal, compiles some of the health effects following recovery from COVID-19. These may be:

1. Dyspnoea or the feeling of shortness of breath that some patients continue to experience after being discharged.

2. Muscle involvement in many patients who have suffered from COVID-19 and which can lead to the aforementioned dyspnea.

3. Neurological sequelae which can contribute to a deficit in muscle strength, as well as a deficit in heart function.

4. Pulmonary fibrosis, Sometimes they are extensive and are associated with dyspnea as one of the causes and sometimes they are not, since sometimes they are localized and have no effect on the symptoms if there is no dyspnea.

5. Patients usually recover within the first 2 to 4 weeks. However, a prolonged deficit may persist. In fact, there are patients who It takes time for them to regain their sense of smell.

6. Cutaneous sequelae: Although skin manifestations are not constant, they do exist and vary in severity and intensity.

7. Due to the inflammatory phenomenon and hyperreactivity, dermatology services are registering many hives.

8. telogen effluvium or hair loss, especially on the top of the scalp, has also become a consequence of COVID-19 that can appear weeks after overcoming the disease.

9. Cardiological fingerprint: Some patients have presented myocarditis, others even sudden death.

10. thromboembolism: Two medium-term sequelae to be prevented are post-thrombotic syndrome and thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Therefore, it is important to maintain antithrombotic prophylaxis for up to 7-14 days after hospital discharge in these patients.

Understanding the scope of a disease and the measures we must take, ensures us live with less uncertainty in the event of possible health problems. Insurance SURA helps us face our fears through up-to-date and truthful information provided by specialists and health science professionals.