Never in the modern scientific era have so many people been infected with the same virus in such a short period of time. And if the history of medicine is a guide, a proportion of COVID-19 survivors will not fully recover and will develop disabling and chronic neurological dysfunctions and other disorders.
In recent decades, outbreaks of other infectious diseases—such as
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), both also arising from coronaviruses, as well as
West Nile virus,
H1N1 influenza, and
Ebola—have been followed by a range of long-term complaints. These have included, among others, severe muscle pain; headaches; loss of balance; paralyzing fatigue; and declines in memory, concentration, and other cognitive functions. Yet, we know very little about why most patients get better from episodes of infectious disease while a smaller number continue to suffer from troubling and sometimes devastating symptoms.
As society grapples with the immediate demands of the coronavirus pandemic, we need to anticipate and prepare for a likely wave of post-COVID-19 illness. It is critical that the US and other key players in global health implement a coordinated international tracking system of COVID-19 patients, with harmonized data collection and biological sampling at regular intervals.
Although much remains unknown about the novel coronavirus,
reports of non-respiratory symptoms and clinical events have been widespread. These include loss of sense of smell or taste, confusion and cognitive impairments, fainting, sudden muscle weakness or paralysis, seizures, ischemic strokes, kidney damage, and—most recently—a sometimes fatal pediatric inflammatory syndrome.
Other research has shown slowed brain wave patterns, brain inflammation, and evidence of virus in cerebrospinal fluid.
To date, it is clear that some symptoms can persist in susceptible patients for at least a couple of months after infection. Identifying such medical concerns in real time could help unlock the secrets of these post-viral illnesses, prevent them in the future, and find better treatments for those who suffer from them—including post-COVID-19 patients themselves.
