No such thing as ‘long COVID,’ health agency says in shock claim: ‘Unnecessary fear’

[Dashinka 24,767]

Interesting study from the Land Down Under.

 

No such thing as ‘long COVID,’ health agency says in shock claim: ‘Unnecessary fear

 

“We believe it is time to stop using terms like ‘Long COVID’,” said Dr. John Gerrard, Queensland’s Chief Health Officer, who oversaw the newly-released study.

 

“They wrongly imply there is something unique and exceptional about longer term symptoms associated with this virus,” he explained.

 

This terminology can cause unnecessary fear, and in some cases, hyper-vigilance to longer symptoms that can impede recovery,” Gerrard warned.

 

Researchers at Queensland Health surveyed 5,112 symptom sufferers aged 18 years and older to reach their conclusion.

 

Symptoms reported included fatigue, brain fog, cough, shortness of breath, change to smell and taste, dizziness, and rapid or irregular heartbeat.

 

Researchers pulled their subjects from a pool of sick Australians who’d taken COVID-19 tests — testing both positive and negative — in late spring of 2022, quizzing them a year later on their symptoms and quality of life.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/no-such-thing-as-long-covid-health-agency-says-in-shock-claim-unnecessary-fear/ar-BB1jVjBX

[Crazy Cat 42,212]

Another item added to the list of "Untrue things we were told about Covid".   I hope we never see anything like that again.

Edited March 15, 2024 by Crazy Cat

[appleblossom 3,057]

I know it's the NY Post so hardly a reputable source, but what a load of nonsense that is. They're only referring to mild cases, so not really relevant to those with serious long covid whose lives have been turned upside down with organ damage and other much more serious symptoms.  

 

One of my son's best friends hasn't been able to walk since she caught Covid in 2020, when she was hospitalised and nearly died. She was going to be a doctor and hasn't been to school in over 3 years. She's only been able to summon up enough energy in the past year to get in the car to leave the house. And a 5 minute Zoom chat with a friend exhausts her. Her teenage years have been destroyed by long Covid and her symptoms are far beyond those described in that article - she's only 16.

 

Maybe it's taken more seriously in the UK as there was a very high profile case there, a man called Derek Draper who died of it earlier this year. He was the husband of a famous tv presenter, so that raised a lot of public awareness. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-67893235#

[Boiler 46,025]

UK news article sadly also not very reputable:

 

Time to stop using term ‘long Covid’ as symptoms are no worse than those after flu, study finds

 

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/mar/15/long-covid-symptoms-flu-cold

 

“We believe it is time to stop using terms like ‘long Covid’. They wrongly imply there is something unique and exceptional about longer-term symptoms associated with this virus. This terminology can cause unnecessary fear, and in some cases, hypervigilance to longer symptoms that can impede recovery.”

In a press conference on Friday, Gerrard said: “I want to make it clear that the symptoms that some patients described after having Covid-19 are real, and we believe they are real. What we are saying is that the incidence of these symptoms is no greater in Covid-19 than it is with other respiratory viruses, and that to use this term ‘long Covid’ is misleading and I believe harmful.”

[Dashinka 24,767]

25 minutes ago, Boiler said:

UK news article sadly also not very reputable:

 

Time to stop using term ‘long Covid’ as symptoms are no worse than those after flu, study finds

 

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/mar/15/long-covid-symptoms-flu-cold

 

“We believe it is time to stop using terms like ‘long Covid’. They wrongly imply there is something unique and exceptional about longer-term symptoms associated with this virus. This terminology can cause unnecessary fear, and in some cases, hypervigilance to longer symptoms that can impede recovery.”

In a press conference on Friday, Gerrard said: “I want to make it clear that the symptoms that some patients described after having Covid-19 are real, and we believe they are real. What we are saying is that the incidence of these symptoms is no greater in Covid-19 than it is with other respiratory viruses, and that to use this term ‘long Covid’ is misleading and I believe harmful.”

Just another outlet reporting the same study.