• torturedllama@lemmy.nz
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    1 year ago

    Something I never seem to hear explained: What IS long COVID. Is it damage to lungs, is it a change in the behavior of the immune system, is it something that happens in the cells? Where in the body is it hiding? Is this something we just don’t know yet?

    • jennifilm@beehaw.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      1 year ago

      I think it’s still unknown? This article talks about how even the definition and symptoms of long covid are still being debated!

    • ericjmorey@beehaw.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      1 year ago

      Anything that persists long term after an infection is long COVID. It’s the same concept for other viral infections.

      • Ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        0
        ·
        1 year ago

        Sure, but what is that? Neural damage? Inflammation? Lingering viral load? Weakened immune system? Immune system over excitability?

        • SenorBolsa@beehaw.org
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          edit-2
          1 year ago

          We don’t know. That’s the only good answer.

          Neurological damage seems to be a strong contender for the bulk of long COVID symptoms though.

        • kwj@szmer.info
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          My friend has neural symptoms and gastrological symptoms, also they’re very tired, much more than before Covid.

    • Panteleimon@beehaw.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      1 year ago

      Largely, yeah, we just don’t know. In research terms, it’s still quite early, so anything definitive is likely years away. However, research is starting to indicate it may be neurological - a product of damage to the brain and nervous system, as this article discusses.