What to know about residual Covid-19 symptoms

After one has contracted and recovered from Covid-19, symptoms may linger for weeks or even months. This is termed residual or long-term Covid-19.

These are symptoms that persist more than six weeks after the patient has already recovered.

Kenyan chest specialist Joseph Aluoch told the Star that sometimes, residual Covid-19 may occur in people who never had symptoms but had the infection.

"Most of the long Covid-19 affects the lungs, which we call the breathing effects, coughing and then CT scan shows some symbiosis of the lungs," he said.

Some of the effects are feeling tired and forgetting things easily.

He said since the pandemic has been in existence for two years, it has not been established how long it lasts in the body.

Other long-term effects are depression and anxiety, which can be severe, although both conditions are treatable.

"It depends on the organ affected the most. If it is the brain, then you need a bit of counselling from a psychiatrist," Aluoch said.

"If it affects the lungs, then visit a specialist of the same."

Residual Covid-19 is common among young women.

"It is a genetic variation and nobody can tell about that."

Once you contract Covid-19, vaccines will not stop the effect.

For those who are vaccinated and experience a breakthrough infection, you'll still need to get a Covid-19 booster.