Philippines confirms cases of 'long COVID'

Cases of "Long COVID," or people experiencing medium to long-term effects of COVID-19 following recovery, have been confirmed in the country, a government health adviser said Saturday.

"Nag-uumpisa nang i-identify 'yan dahil na-identify ito sa ibang bansa, ng WHO (World Health Organization), ng United Kingdom, ng US. Nag-uumpisa nang makakita ang ating mga doktor sa ospital ng cases niyan," National Task Force Against COVID-19 adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa said at the Laging Handa briefing.

(It is beginning to be identified because it has been identified in other countries, by the WHO, the UK, the US. Doctors in our country's hospitals are starting to see cases of long COVID.)

According to the WHO, current evidence suggests that approximately 10 to 20 percent of people experience a variety of mid to long-term effects after recovering from COVID-19.

People with long COVID develop a variety of effects like fatigue, breathlessness and cognitive dysfunction (confusion, forgetfulness, or a lack of mental focus and clarity), the WHO added.

Some people also experience psychological effects due to post COVID-19 condition.

Herbosa added that people with long COVID experience inflammation of the heart and brain fog.

"Binabantayan natin ito at itatala natin ito, irerehistro rin natin ito at bibilangin at aaralin para malaman natin ang sitwasyon ng long COVID sa Pilipinas," he said.

(We are monitoring it and we will record it, we will also register, count and study it so that we could identify the situation of long COVID in the Philippines.)

Vaccination after infection with SARS-CoV-2 may contribute to a reduction in the burden of long COVID symptoms, a new study suggests. —LBG, GMA News