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Munich (dpa) - Covid 19 patients are by no means healthy after their recovery from the acute illness in many cases: Those affected describe that complaints keep coming back for months.
Joachim Meyer, pulmonologist, intensive care physician and chief physician at the Lung Center at the Munich Clinic, speaks of recurring "recurrent symptoms" and a "wavy course".
"It remains a new disease that we have to get to know," said Meyer of the German press agency.
Many Covid 19 patients would have problems long after they were discharged - including with lung function, concentration and performance.
Above all, some of those who have recovered suffer from deep exhaustion, known as fatigue, for a long time.
US researchers have broken down the course into three phases: From two weeks after the acute infection, hyperinflammatory diseases could follow, and inflammatory processes caused by an excessive immune reaction, they explain in the journal “Jama”.
Organs can therefore fail or be damaged, as well as the lungs, kidneys and heart.
The third phase from the fourth week also includes cardiovascular, neurological and psychological consequences.
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Doctors are still puzzling why some people feel almost nothing of the acute infection, while others become fatally ill.
According to Meyer, one possible criterion for the severity of the course is the virus load that someone gets when infected.
That is why wearing masks is extremely important.
In the case of a severe course, unlike in the early days, artificial ventilation is provided as late as possible, the pulmonologist said.
In many cases, the intensive supply of oxygen is sufficient.
In addition, it is now clearer at what severity of the disease and in what dosage cortisone can help to contain the inflammatory process.
"These are new aspects that were not standard in the first wave."
The new findings would bring better chances of survival for seriously ill patients.
Study in "Jama" on phases of corona infection
Study in "Plos" on fatigue syndrome