Coronavirus: Survivors are left with devastating complications

Jul 26, 2020 Dr Zulfikar Bux, Features / Columnists

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc; we are now close to 16 million cases with over 600,000 deaths worldwide. The death rates are higher in those that are older or have pre-existing medical conditions. This has given a false sense of security to many that are younger as it is thought that once you are young, you will survive the COVID-19 infection and get on with life. Consequently, many persons have flaunted restriction guidelines and are now responsible for surge in cases worldwide. What is unfortunate, is the overwhelming evidence of distasteful complications that this disease is leaving in survivors. What is even more alarming, is the reality that these complications are also occurring in the young who had mild or no symptoms when they were infected. Today, I will highlight some of these complications so that you see why it is so important to practice preventative measures and avoid this disease altogether.
Scarring of the lungs
We are mostly aware that the lung is one of the primary sites of damage from the COVID-19 infection. It causes our lungs to become inflamed and make it difficult for us to get oxygen into our blood. Survivors are now complaining of persistent coughing, burning in their chest, and worse of all, persistent shortness of breath. Some cannot walk a few steps before they have to stop to breathe. Others are like asthmatics that have to visit the hospital frequently for oxygen. Researchers are worried that the scarring that is occurring in the lungs may be permanent and many will be scarred for life.
Excruciating Pains
Some survivors are returning to their doctors in severe pains which is difficult to treat. Doctors are often baffled as they cannot figure out the cause of the pain. Yet, their patients complain of the “worse pain of their life” and have to be on strong doses of pain relievers. Researchers are not sure why patients have such levels of pain but are theorizing that it may be damage to nerves which are not being picked up by scans. The worry is that we may have a population of survivors that are dependent on strong doses of pain medications for the rest of their lives.
Heart damage
There are many cases of survivors whose heart function has been compromised by the infection and will not be able to live a normal life. For some, the virus causes inflammation to the muscle of their heart leading to a weaker heart that cannot properly deliver blood around their body. Some of these survivors are left with permanent heart failure and may need a heart transplant or medications just to ensure they live to see another day.
Liver and kidney damage
Our liver and kidneys are vital organs that perform many lifesaving functions for our body. One of these functions include the excretion of medications. Some may need these medications during or after the disease to ensure their survival. There are cases where patient’s kidneys and/or liver have been damaged to the point where they cannot excrete these lifesaving medications. These patients are either awaiting transplant or have to get regular dialysis to ensure their survival.
Cognitive and mental health impacts
Because of the inflammation and clot formation, there are survivors who are presenting with varying degrees of brain damage. While some are confused, depressed and hallucinate for unknown reasons, there are others who are getting strokes and have permanent memory loss as a result of the infection. This will only lead to more mental health problems as the disease continues its spread.
There are many other complications that science is figuring out as the disease continues to spread rapidly. At this rate, I am worried that we will be left with a population that has many disabilities and cannot be as productive as we were before the pandemic. We need to take this disease more seriously and practice preventative measures. Coronavirus is not just a life and death matter; it’s also about the suffering for those who escaped death.

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Coronavirus: Survivors are left with devastating complications

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