Long COVID risk extends two years after infection. Here’s how to assess your risk – CTV
Aug. 19, 2022
Getting sick from COVID-19 is bad enough. What if you’re one of the unlucky people who experience what is called long COVID? It’s a medley of symptoms that can occur months — and even years — after recovering from COVID, according to a new study of more one million people from eight countries.
Adult risk of developing seizure disorders, brain fog, dementia and other mental health conditions remain high two years after recovering from COVID-19, the study found.
“These are important findings, but they shouldn’t lead to panic,” said coauthor Paul Harrison, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Oxford in the U.K. “We’re not talking about things that are 10 or 100 times more common. I think the worst odds ratio is sort of two or three.”
Children had an increased risk of being diagnosed with epilepsy or seizures, encephalitis and nerve root disorders, which can cause pain, weakness or loss of sensation in an arm or a leg. There was also a small, but worrisome risk of being diagnosed with a psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia or delusional thinking.
