Scientists are racing to pinpoint the cause of long COVID and find new treatments before a potential explosion of cases.
It’s too soon to know whether people infected with the highly contagious omicron variant will develop the mysterious constellation of symptoms, usually diagnosed many weeks after the initial illness. But some experts think a wave of long COVID is likely and say doctors need to be prepared for it.
In her lab at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, scientist Resia Pretorius has found microclots in blood samples from patients with COVID-19 and in those who later developed long COVID. She also found elevated levels of proteins in blood plasma that prevented the normal breakdown of these clots.
Long COVID affects adults of all ages as well as children. Research shows it is more prevalent among those who were hospitalized, but also strikes a significant portion who weren’t. Immunobiologist Akiko Iwasaki is studying the tantalizing possibility that COVID-19 vaccination might reduce long COVID symptoms. Her team at Yale University is collaborating with a patient group called Survivor Corps on a study that involves vaccinating previously unvaccinated long COVID patients as a possible treatment.
Neither has been published in a peer-reviewed journal, but outside experts say the results are encouraging.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
What to know about BA.2, the newest COVID-19 omicron variantIt’s called the “stealth” variant, but there’s nothing particularly stealthy about it. Researchers are working to parse whether it is a new threat.
Les mer »
Russia's daily COVID-19 infections spike above 110,000 as omicron variant impacts countryThe daily count of new coronavirus infections in Russia spiked above 110,000 as the highly contagious omicron variant races impacts the country.
Les mer »
Omicron Pushes Health Authorities Toward Learning to Live With Covid-19Health authorities are offering a glimpse into the future as they abandon restrictive steps designed to contain the virus and focus on hospitalized patients.
Les mer »
COVID antiviral pills work against Omicron—when people can get themThree lab experiments show that Pfizer's COVID-19 pill, Paxlovid, holds up well against the Omicron variant, but supplies are limited.
Les mer »
Omicron has states rethinking 'broken' school Covid testing - POLITICOState leaders and health experts are weighing a counterintuitive school Covid strategy: less testing and contact tracing
Les mer »