• ericjmorey@beehaw.org
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    1 year ago

    Anything that persists long term after an infection is long COVID. It’s the same concept for other viral infections.

    • Ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      1 year ago

      Sure, but what is that? Neural damage? Inflammation? Lingering viral load? Weakened immune system? Immune system over excitability?

      • SenorBolsa@beehaw.org
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        edit-2
        1 year ago

        We don’t know. That’s the only good answer.

        Neurological damage seems to be a strong contender for the bulk of long COVID symptoms though.

        • jarfil
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          It seems to be linked to the COVID spike protein, which has been found lingering around in all cells for many months after a COVID infection, including in neurons, and may be causing long term inflammation-like reactions.

          There are experiments undergoing for medication that could clean out those spike proteins from the whole body. Hopefully that might fix some of it.