UAE: Long Covid symptoms persist in many patients, doctors say

UAE: Long Covid symptoms persist in many patients, doctors say

They say that these people might require long-term rehabilitation or care

By SM Ayaz Zakir Published: Fri 24 Jun 2022, 2:59 PM

Two years after contracting Covid-19, Seema Mary Rajan, a nurse and ICU assistant at Medcare Hospital in Sharjah, is still dealing with post-covid complications.

During her battle with the virus, she had multiple symptoms including high fever, sore throat, cough, loss of smell and shortness of breath.

“In the ICU, we have been severely ill patients. So, I could have contracted the virus in the hospital,” she said.

Soon, she recovered from the virus but still couldn't breathe properly. “In the ICU, we would wear a surgical mask with an N-95 mask on top of it. Then, we would layer it with the PPE kit and a face shield. It was difficult for me to breathe and had to stress myself to inhale and exhale. But in the ICU, when we see people on life-support systems battling for life, our pains seem small,” she added.

After a month, she could finally breathe normally. However, she then started dealing with joint pain and swelling. “I consulted our doctors and they said it was a post-covid complication and will subside in some time. Even after two