COVID-19: MULTI-ORGAN DAMAGE

In July the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that some 1 million people in the UK were suffering adverse symptoms more than 4 weeks after infection from COVID-19.  Over 850,000 for more than 12 weeks and nearly 400,000 more than a year. 

What’s termed ‘Long Covid’.  We are hearing more and more about people who continue to suffer for long periods.  The ‘Long Haulers’.  But why?

One reason is that if the virus gets into the blood, as it can as a result of long damage, it will spread around the body and attack other organs.  This academic paper titled Role of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) in COVID-19 explains that the virus "SARS-CoV-2 enters lung cells via the ACE2 receptor. The cell-free and macrophage-phagocytosed virus can spread to other organs and infect ACE2-expressing cells at local sites, causing multi-organ injury.”   Diagrammatically:

Organs that can be affected include the brain, and be one reason why many Long Haulers complain of 'brain fog', making it difficult to work.  Pains around the body too.

The number of people affected is far higher than are hospitalised.  Indeed the virus’s line of attack is not limited to the old and unhealthy, but the young and fit too.  That includes children.

Multi-organ damage is a key reason why COVID-19 is worse than flu, and why it is worth you taking basic precautions to avoid catching this hideous disease.  Not just vaccination.

COVID-19: LET’S GET ON WITH LIFE. BUT HOW?

Per ZOE app, as below

 “We can’t lock ourselves away any longer.  You could get run over crossing the road.  Let’s get on with life!”

That’s understandable after all these months.  It’s what we all want.  

But in crossing the road, wouldn’t you look and listen, and only cross when there was a gap in the traffic?  Basic precautions.

As with many other aspects of our lives, the same principle of taking precautions applies to COVID-19.  Except the virus is invisible and silent.  The problem is people are infectious before they display symptoms.  As the World Health Organisation says "Laboratory data suggests that infected people appear to be most infectious just before they develop symptoms (namely 2 days before they develop symptoms) and early in their illness. People who develop severe disease can be infectious for longer."  So we can’t tell who might be infectious.  

The now-prevalent Delta variant is very infectious.  So basic precautions need to suit the risks.
 

BUT I’M DOUBLE-VAXED

Andrew Marr

We know COVID-19 can be more serious than flu, even when vaccinated:

• People can be very unpleasantly ill for several days despite being double-jabbed, such as Andrew Marr
• Even very fit people can suffer adverse symptoms months after infection, so-called Long Covid.  Such as racing driver Lewis Hamilton
• People are still getting hospitalised and dying.  

It’s therefore worth avoiding this disease.  The vaccination programme in the UK is working very well at a population level, and well worthwhile for individuals.  

But there are still those residual risks, vaxed or not.
 

BUT AREN’T CASE NUMBERS DROPPING?

It’s good news that infection rates are dropping in total in the UK, but the total is still high at around 25,000 new confirmed cases per day.  This hides there are recent rises in all areas of England except the North East.  

For example, infection levels are still high in Oxford, according to the Kings College ZOE study:

Oxford cases per Kings College ZOE app

Until infection rates are back low and staying low, it therefore makes sense to continue to take basic precautions to avoid catching the disease.  Whatever your age or health status.

WHAT BASIC PRECAUTIONS?

As the virus spreads principally through the air in people’s breath, avoiding close contact with people is the main precaution.  As far as possible avoiding crowded indoor places such as pubs and public transport.   Keeping visits to shops short.  Wearing masks to protect each other.  Meeting outside when possible.

So yes, let’s get on with life.  But let’s do so with care.

Do you agree?  Or not?

COVID-19: YOUNG, FIT AND LONG COVID

Younger adults are being more reluctant to get vaccinated.  Especially young men.  One of the reasons cited is “I’m young, fit and healthy, so I don’t need to be vaccinated.”

On Sunday, Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton (right) disclosed that he has been struggling all year, having had COVID-19 in December last year.

He said “The training has been different since then and the levels of fatigue you get are different and it's a real challenge.” "I have been fighting all year with my health after what happened at the end of last year and it is still a battle."  Eight months on.  That's a long time.

These symptoms are typical of what’s termed ‘Long Covid’.  At 36. Lewis is a relatively young man.  Proving even the young and very fit can catch COVID-19, and potentially suffer the ongoing effects of Long Covid.  Vaccination substantially reduces those risks, as we’ve seen against the now dominant Delta variant.

So worth getting vaccinated, whatever your age!