The sixth wave of the new coronavirus has passed the peak of infection, but medical institutions are consulting with patients suffering from symptoms that appear to be sequelae after infection with the Omicron strain.


From this month, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has begun a new survey to understand the actual conditions and effects of sequelae.

In the sixth wave, when the infection of the Omicron strain spread, about 4.6 million people were infected nationwide by the end of last month, and medical institutions with specialized outpatient departments had abnormal taste and smell, as well as malaise and concentration. Patients who are suffering from symptoms such as a decrease in illness are visiting for consultation one after another.



Under these circumstances, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has begun investigating with a budget of 200 million yen from this month in order to grasp the actual situation of sequelae and investigate the impact of the new corona on the medical system.



Specifically, a national research group will investigate what kind of symptoms continue after infection with the Omicron strain, the complications that are caused, and the factors, etc., in consideration of future epidemics.



In addition, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will revise the guideline that shows the methods of medical examination and rehabilitation of patients who are considered to have sequelae, based on the latest knowledge, so that people suffering from symptoms can be treated promptly at local medical institutions. I want to do it.



The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare says, "In many cases, the sequelae of the new corona have not been clarified yet, but we would like to work on understanding the pathology and connecting it to appropriate medical care."

Many specialist patients point out that the number of people with sequelae may increase

Professor Akihito Yokoyama of Kochi University School of Medicine, who was the representative of the national research group investigating the sequelae of the new corona until March, said that the sequelae that occur after infection with the Omicron strain are not yet known in detail, but the Omicron strain. Since the number of people infected with Omicron is much higher than before, there is a risk that more people will complain of sequelae.



According to Professor Yokoyama, the sequelae that occur after being infected with the new corona include those that are more likely to occur in people who have become severely ill due to corona, such as shortness of breath and muscle weakness, and those that occur in both severe and mild cases such as malaise, odor and taste abnormalities. about it.



Regarding the sequelae of the new corona, WHO = World Health Organization states that "a symptom that starts 3 months after the onset and lasts for at least 2 months", and the sequelae that occur after infection with the Omicron strain are not yet known in detail, but Yokoyama The professor said, "The frequency of sequelae is thought to be low in the Omicron strain, which is said to have many mild cases, but since the number of patients is extremely large, the number of people who have sequelae may be very large. Some people are suffering from sequelae, so I can't take it lightly. "



In addition, regarding the fact that sequelae are seen even in the younger generation, which is less likely to become severe when infected with the new corona, "Omicron strain infects many people even in relatively young people, and has a great impact on the active generation. It is important to register the symptoms of sequelae, understand the actual situation, and proceed with research to clarify the mechanism that occurs as soon as possible. Since there are reports from overseas that the frequency of sequelae decreases when a vaccine is given, the vaccine Infection is also important. "