Sports medicine interview: "I would not have expected that with a vaccinated Kimmich"

Mr Bloch, Joshua Kimmich will initially still be absent from FC Bayern Munich after his corona infection due to an infiltration of the lungs.

What does that mean exactly?

David Lindenfeld

Volunteer.

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That means that he has material in his lungs that doesn't belong there.

That can be liquid.

These can be immune cells.

Most of the time it's a mix of both.

This happens more often with inflammation because the vessels become more permeable and more fluid penetrates the lungs.

But that goes away again quite well if you treat it correctly.

How can this be dealt with?

In the case of a viral infection, the first step is to use an anti-inflammatory approach.

Which measures have to be taken exactly can only be decided by those who have the findings.

What further developments are conceivable?

That is the question.

Unfortunately, what happens more often with Covid 19 is that it leads to connective tissue infiltration, i.e. that connective tissue builds up in the fine walls of the lungs.

That would then no longer go away so quickly and become a protracted change that, depending on its severity, can also become a permanent state.

Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said today that it was "not so dramatic that you can expect any consequential damage".

He is not very concerned that Kimmich and Choupo-Moting, who is also infected, “can no longer go to their limits.” Is he right or is he downplaying a risk that should not be underestimated?

Basically, a young athlete likes to regenerate.

The lungs are also a very plastic organ with great potential for regeneration.

He can say that.

But there is also a bit of optimism about purpose.

Both are certainly receiving optimal medical treatment.

This means that there is less risk of permanent damage.

As long as symptoms are present, there should be no exposure.

It is important that the stress build-up slowly takes place 14 days after the symptoms have disappeared.

Is what has now become known at Kimmich a typical beginning for what is called Long Covid?

No, there is no typical beginning of Long Covid.

There are also high-performance athletes as patients who are almost asymptomatic and who do not experience problems until four weeks after the start of exercise.

For example, there is an athlete I know who still cannot do endurance training after a year.

But there is not

lung finding which suggests Long Covid.

Covid is a multi-organ disease.

It is not an optimal condition if the lungs are affected, but you cannot assess whether this will turn into a long covid.

What do you already know for sure about Long Covid?

We speak of Long Covid if symptoms persist after twelve weeks.

We know for sure that there are certain symptoms that occur frequently.

Chronic fatigue is certainly the key symptom that occurs in 60 or 70 percent of those affected.

But we also have a large bouquet of symptoms.

This affects almost all organ systems.

There are a few key symptoms that occur frequently: For example, shortness of breath or headache.

Often also concentration problems.

A central problem for athletes is always that performance, resilience and the ability to regenerate are limited.

How many people struggle with the protracted consequences of a corona infection?

And how many of them are athletes?