THE jury is still on whether the effects of Long Covid could be permanent.
This according to the Medical Director of the Arima General Hospital Dr Ravi Lala speaking at the virtual press conference of the Ministry of Health on Saturday.
He said, “There is no guarantee that patients will recover fully from Long Covid. “
Dr Lala said, “Some of the symptoms can last months… whether it’s effects are permanent or not that is something we are looking into.”
The North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) offers services to members of the public. This includes the Executive Wellness/Long Covid Clinic.
Long Covid is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a post-Covid-19 condition that occurs in individuals who have had a history of probable or confirmed SARS CoV-2 infection, usually three months after the onset of Covid-19, with symptoms that last at least two months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis.
Fatigue, shortness of breath, and cognitive dysfunction are common symptoms, but there are others that have an influence on daily activities. Multi-organ impacts and autoimmune diseases are signs and symptoms in more severe cases.
Dr Lala said, “When we conceptualised our Long Covid clinic, the patients with multi-organ effects were the ones whose needs we went about trying to serve.”
With almost 500 visits since its establishment in October 2020, Dr Lalla described the Long Covid clinic as a “one-stop solution shop” where patients receive a wide range of services within one day.
A specialised referral is the first step, followed by a pre-visit screening.
