There are 4 different types of Long Covid: here are the symptoms to recognize them

After nearly three years of the pandemic, we know that the so-called LongCovidor that set of disturbances induced by the virus which, in some subjects, remain and manifest themselves even after the negativization, it strikes one in five adults under the age of 65. But scientists are trying to find out even more about the condition.

A new study has now found that there are actually four main subtypes of LongCovid. Published in the magazine nature medicineand taken from Preventionthe study analyzed clusters of symptoms in about 35,000 patients with LongCovid. Virtually every patient had had at least one persistent symptom after Covid-19, which lasted from 30 to 180 days. The researchers used an algorithm that looked at 137 different symptoms and then classified the patients into the four main groups that emerged.

This is not the first study attempting to classify Long Covid. A similar one, released last year, had already split persistent Covid symptoms into three groups: cognitive, respiratory, and everything else. “Several studies demonstrate the existence of a wide range of potential Long Covid symptoms, but it is not yet clear whether they are more likely to appear all together or only individually,” said Fei Wang, co-author of the latest study and an associate professor. at Weill Cornell Medicine. “This study aims to fill that gap.”

What are the 4 subtypes of Long Covid\

The researchers found that Long Covid sufferers generally fell into one of the following categories:

1.Conditions affecting i cardiac and renal systems (kidney);
2.Conditions affecting the Respiratory Systemon sleep and on anxiety problems;
3.Conditions of musculoskeletal and nervous system;
4.Conditions affecting i digestive and respiratory systems.

According to the results, the subtype involving the cardiac and renal systems was the most common: 34% of patients fell into this category. However, 33% of patients fell into the second category, with respiratory symptoms, anxiety, persistent headaches and insomnia. Subsequently, 23% of patients fell into the musculoskeletal and nervous system group, while only 10% of patients had conditions affecting the gut.

What are the symptoms of Long Covid

Research is still ongoing into Long Covid, also known as the post-Covid condition, but i Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) elaborated a list of symptoms which the organization has also categorized.

general symptoms
– Fatigue that interferes with daily life

-Symptoms that worsen after physical or mental effort

-Temperature

Respiratory and cardiac symptoms
– Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

-Cough
-Chest pain
– Palpitations

neurological symptoms
-Fogged mind
-Heachache
-Insomnia
-Dizziness
-Tingling sensation
-Alteration of odors or taste

-Depression or anxiety

digestive symptoms
-Diarrhea
-Stomach ache

Other symptoms
– Joint or muscle pain
-Rash
-Changes in menstrual cycles\

The importance of this classification

In fact, the study didn’t discover anything new about Long Covid: it simply classified the data. And since Long Covid is a complication of the virus – and for general practitioners it can be difficult to identify precisely who may be suffering from itas well as how to treat her – this represents a good way to recognize the different types of Long Covid and orient yourself in this regard.

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