Four years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers continue to work to understand the causes of the lingering coronavirus and develop treatments. . Nearly one in four adults infected with COVID-19 developed long-term symptoms of COVID-19, according to the latest data from the Census Bureau.
Anyone who is infected with COVID-19 can develop long-term COVID-19, but the symptoms are more common in people who have had severe COVID-19 symptoms, women, the elderly, and others. It is said to be more common in people with underlying health conditions and those who have not been vaccinated. Washington State Department of Health. People who have been infected with COVID-19 multiple times may have more health risks, including a longer duration of COVID-19 infection.
An analysis of Census Bureau data shows the percentage of adults who have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 for three months or more. These states had the highest rates of reporting long-term coronavirus symptoms.
Which states have the highest long-term transmission rates of COVID-19?
Prolonged COVID-19 refers to symptoms that emerge after recovery from COVID-19 and persist for weeks, months, or even years.
Oklahoma and Montana have the highest percentages of adults who tested positive for COVID-19 and had symptoms for three months or more, according to Census Bureau data. About 34% of adults in both states reported long-term coronavirus symptoms in November.
Residents in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama have the lowest rates of additional vaccinations in the country, at 6.8%, 7.7% and 7.7%, respectively. At least a quarter of adults in these states reported continuing coronavirus symptoms long after infection.
Vaccines and long-term coronavirus infections
As of May 2023, approximately 70% of the U.S. population has received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine series. But only 17% of the population has received the latest booster shot, according to the CDC.
Most Americans received their last vaccination more than a year ago, meaning that by the time they get infected with COVID-19, their immunity to it has waned. Experts say the disease will not be as severe as someone who has never been vaccinated or exposed to the virus, but it will be more severe than someone who has recently been vaccinated.
Your immune defenses usually weaken over time, so you can catch a cold every year. Additionally, most viruses, such as the one that causes COVID-19, mutate over time, leaving us unprepared to respond accurately to viruses that arrive in the year following infection or vaccination. .
Current COVID-19 vaccines cannot prevent all infections. But experts say a vaccine will almost certainly reduce the severity of the disease and also reduce the risk of prolonged coronavirus infection, where symptoms remain for months or even years after the initial infection has subsided. ing.
What are the symptoms of long-term coronavirus?
In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, researchers identified the following symptoms that are most characteristic of long-term coronavirus infection: Forgetfulness; dizziness; gastrointestinal symptoms. Palpitations; problems with sexual desire or performance. Loss of smell or taste. Thirst; chronic cough. Chest pain; and abnormal movements.
Long-term coronavirus research:Study identifies symptoms that distinguish long-lasting coronavirus
2024 Novel Coronavirus Quarantine:Do I have to stay home if I have coronavirus? The rules may surprise you.
Karen Weintraub contributed to this report.
