AAFP Long COVID resource: Supporting Family Physicians and Patients

[rvallee]

(Unsure where to place this, it isn't news, more of a resource from a large organization, it's probably not new but I couldn't find it on the forum)

From the American Association of Family Physicians.

Supporting Family Physicians and Patients
https://www.aafp.org/family-physici...9/covid-19-clinical-resources/long-covid.html

Includes some documents for physicians and patients, CME resources, a definition of LC that is a copy-paste of ME/CFS, but with zero mention of it. The AAFP recently published an article on LC, that may as well also be about ME/CFS, but without any mention of it. Frankly, a physician who relies on official sources to know about LC is simply not well-informed about it, they are simply inadequate.

Some of the information is actually better than average, but it only offers bits and pieces that physicians have to put together. The patient handout has a rather clear, and useful, warning:

Symptoms of long COVID may last for weeks, months or years after a person has fully recovered from active COVID-19 illness. They often appear or get worse after activity.

 

[Utsikt]

Documentation of a positive COVID-19 test is not required to diagnose long COVID. Long COVID encompasses a variety of symptoms that may affect multiple organ systems, ranging in severity and duration. Symptoms often fluctuate over time and can significantly impact daily functioning. Common symptoms include:

• Fatigue or post-exertional malaise (PEM)
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Cognitive impairment or "brain fog"
• Chest pain or heart palpitations
• Joint and muscle pain
• Sleep disturbances, headaches, and rashes
• Impaired ability to perform daily activities

This makes it seem like PEM is mostly fatigue.