When she closed her school in March 2020, she believed Chimére Sweeney, an English teacher in Baltimore, that she would return to her students as soon as the United States deals with the new SARS-COV-2 virus. But “Life had a different plan” when she got Kovid shortly after – then she never recovered.
Initially, Sweeini only developed muscle pain. By the second week, she began to suffer from panic attacks, blurry vision, constipation and partial hearing loss. Half her face freezes “like concrete.” I forgot the numbers of phones and addresses and developed stuttering. Within a month after injury, it lost 30 lbs.
“I was told that after two weeks I will be better,” said Sweeini, 42 now. “But my weekly never came.”
Nearly five years, it is still struggling with severe body pain, insomnia, depression, rash and painful goal, irreplaceable urination, short -term memory loss, and irregular periods.
“I have moved from being a 37 -year -old woman, I may have had to appear an allergy from time to time, to eating between 10 to 12 countries per day to control almost every regime in my body,” Suene said.
Since the World Health Organization described Covid as a pandemic on March 11, 2020, scientists do not fully understand the reason for the development of some people in disrupting chronic conditions after the initial viral infection. The United States may come during the first winter after birth without a significant increase in cases, but every infection carries a risk to developing a long kwid. Some scientists call for new types of clinical trials to design for long long patients.
It is known that long Covid causes More than 200 different symptoms In approximately ten organs, including those in the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, eyes, and skin, but there is no approved test or recommended treatment. Long research appears Covid It is more common in middle age, especially women and those who suffer from weakening of the immune system, but anyone who holds the virus can get it.
Disease Control and Prevention Centers estimated that 1 in 20 people in the United States, or about 14 million Live with long length. Other data appears so 5.8 million children You may be affected by the situation as well. However, experts say these numbers are likely to be underestimated because there is no official monitoring system.
It is called a billion dollar research initiative recovery It was launched by the National Health Institutes to find the causes of long length, as well as possible treatments, Palace on her promisesThe scholars and preachers of the patient say.
Meanwhile, experts fear that the Trump administration’s extremist discounts in federal spending may Lut the long long research effortsWhich can delay the discovery of treatments. Only last month, President Donald Trump ended the Minister of Health and Humanitarian Services Long Consulting Committee.
This unknown and colored electronic microscopic image that was provided by the National Institutes of American Health in February 2020 shows the novel Coronavirus Sers-COV-2, which is referred to in yellow, which arises from the surface of the cells, which are in blue/pink, are cultivated in a laboratory.
Dr. W.WAel Michael Production, UT Health Austin’s Medical Director Post -ranked program In Texas, he said: “We build the boat while we are at sea, trying to know that together [with patients] … But we completely need to build on the progress we have already made. “
He said: “We have not delivered the answers in proportion to the public health crisis we face.”
What causes long length
SARS-COV-2, which causes Covid, is not the only virus that causes remaining symptoms. Another condition is called muscle encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (Me/CFS), which is involved in many similarities with long Covid. The result of infections With Epstein-Barr, Infenerza and Faricella-Zoster viruses, among other things.
Broad said that Kovid is unique because it seems more likely to cause a chronic disease more than other pathogens. Why may lead to long -term symptoms that are not yet specific. Experts have so far fell on several theories.
One idea is that The virus residue is hidden in different tissues After the infection recedes, Broad said. These viral particles continue to double or motivate the immune system in ways that lead to long -length symptoms.
Another possible reason involves Other viruses reactivateLike EBV and HIV, which was sitting in a sleeping condition in the bodies of people.
“It is also possible that Covid can be deceived by the immune system to the production of antibodies that attack a person’s healthy organs and tissues.
Some evidence indicates that covid It affects the inner lining of the blood vesselsCoralnick said, which could lead to the formation of small clots and help explain symptoms such as irregular heart rate and the failure of the heart faced by some long long patients.
Experts say it is unclear whether one or a mixture of these factors causes a long coffee. However, the evidence indicates that it is all linked to the increase in the inflammation in the body. The risk of long length increases with each Covid infection.
“It is like a river wandering in the dam.” “The higher the Covid rings, the higher the river level to the point that it overflows and there is a flood of long long symptoms.”
Covid’s long diagnosis can be complicated
Although we have diagnostic tools to confirm long Covid symptoms, such as MRI tests, there, there, there, there, there, there, there, There is no test that can be diagnosed Or distinguish it from similar diseases, says the Center for Control of Diseases.
As a result, people have to stay away from work, school or other responsibilities to take dozens of laboratory and scanning tests that are not only expensive, but are also stressful and take a long time. Broad said it was a wide process of removing people preventing people from getting the help they need.
Eyes in the eyes, intestines and immune system
The challenge is now creating one or more vital indicators – genes, proteins or other substances associated with a specific condition – can help in diagnosing long Covid.
A Recovery Last year found that routine laboratory tests, including 25 standard blood and urine tests, found few differences in vital indicators between people with or without Covid infection. The researchers concluded that these tests may not be useful in diagnosing long length.
Koralnik and his team recently discovered that people with Covid Long have reduced blood flow in small blood vessels in the retina, which is the light layer of light behind the eye. Coralnick said this low flow reduces the blood circulation in the brain and around it, which may “poison” small orgasys called mitochondria that converts oxygen into energy.
Coralnick said this theory can explain the reason for many people who suffer from long length exposure to cognitive issues, fatigue and exercise. In general, the results published in February indicate the Journal of Photography, The retina can be a long biological sign.
Other research indicates that promising vital indicators may be present in the intestine and immunity system, but cold indicated that these early results are based on small groups of people and should be considered with a grain of salt.
It is useful like a diagnostic test for people with remaining symptoms, some experts say that a lack of one should not slow scientists in their search for long treatments.
Julia Mov Vogel, director of a great program at Scripps Research and a shareholder in The research led by the patient’s cooperative For long Covid, other cases such as migraines do not have vital indicators or reliable tests to confirm diagnoses, so far Several medications have been approved To treat it.
“I think we’ll get there,” said Vogel, who was a long runner before Covid’s long development in 2020 and now needs a wheelchair. “But I do not personally feel that this should hinder anything.”
Service is disappointed in long long treatments
The Food and Drug Administration has not approved any treatments specifically for a long time. Experts are not sure that we will get any time soon.
“When I got sick for the first time, I was like, well, I just have to survive from three to five years and I think there will be, at least, experience data to manage decent symptoms so that we have options. But we haven’t made almost any progress in treatments.” There are now studies that start promising, but it is not anywhere near the size, it should be given the burden of the disease. “
Most clinical trials experience whether the drugs used to treat other cases are useful for long Covid. For example, researchers at the University of Colombia are looking for British University Low dose Approved drug for opioid and alcohol abuse. It is believed that the drug has anti -inflammatory and pain -equipped properties, and is used outside the designation in people with fibromyalgia and Me/CFS, so it carries capabilities as a long covid treatment.
Other medicines such as ParitinibWhich has been approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis and acute flood, and TimilimabA experimental drug that is given to people with multiple sclerosis is also investigated, where possible long treatments are investigated.
Instead of specific treatments, people with a long circumambulation must balancing comfort and activity in a strategy called Pacing, said BRODE, and they receive physical and cognitive behavioral therapy for more support. Often, many people end up relying on many medications, including antiviral bachelvide, to treat symptoms.
“From a realistic point of view,” we may not actually face one treatment of silver bullets, “said Alison Cohen, epidemic scientist at the University of California.
What is waiting for a recovery?
Cohen said that as long as the spread of SARS-COV-2 continues, everyone is at risk of long length. A study published last month found this Only about 6 % of people with long Covid recover Two years later, according to Cohen. Covid’s vaccination has been associated with long -term freshness, especially among people who got reinforced clips.
Coralnick said that those who improve the experience of many “climbing and landing”. “You have to expect a lot of bumps on the road.”
Cohen said: “Live with long length is exhausting.” “So it is important for everyone who does not live with him to think about what they can do to support the people who are.”
Meanwhile, clinical trials must be designed to accommodate and include patients who aim to, Vogel said. She added that many people are linked to the home or bed and cannot travel for multiple visits in person and they risk, which leads to an increase in the number of symptoms. She said, “There is a lot that you cannot know until you have on the table.”
There is no knowledge when the long long community gets the answers and relief they need, but Vogel keeps its head high.
“I know we can do it. I am sure that with enough well-designed experiences, we can at least improve the quality of life-if not completely treating the disease.” “But I also cannot think in any other way; I cannot accept that this is in my life.”
This article was originally published on NBCNEWS.com
