Years after the onset of COVID-19, long-term effects, known as long COVID, continue to impact many individuals. Dr. Fidaa Shaib, a pulmonologist and medical director at Baylor Medicine’s Post COVID Care Clinic, provides insights into the current state of long COVID.
Long COVID is a complex condition with varying symptoms and recovery times. "There are going to be people who will take more time to recover, and our focus is on therapies that can help them on their recovery journey with close monitoring," said Shaib. She notes that while some patients recover within six months, others endure symptoms for years.
The number of patients seeking care for long COVID remains steady according to Shaib. "The one shift we noticed was that initially, many long COVID patients were young to middle-aged women who were healthy and physically active prior to the COVID illness. In the last year, we have seen an increased number of men presenting to the clinic," she observed.
Symptoms associated with long COVID include respiratory issues such as loss of taste and smell, cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue. These symptoms may persist or reappear after initial recovery from acute illness. "A person can get an acute respiratory illness with the characteristics of COVID illness... Some might even go back to baseline and within a short time they will start having symptoms of long COVID," explained Shaib.
For managing these symptoms, Dr. Shaib advocates for a holistic approach involving various specialists: "In our clinic, we use a holistic approach with a multidisciplinary cadre of specialists including psychologists, neurologists, cardiologists and others." The clinic emphasizes building trust with patients while focusing on diagnosing treatable issues and supporting mental health and physical well-being.
Individuals experiencing potential symptoms of long COVID are advised to consult a physician for appropriate guidance.
