Post-COVID-19 Syndrome in Egyptian Healthcare Staff: Highlighting the Carers Sufferings

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) represents a devastating crisis continuing for more than a year up till now with new emerging presentations and complications every now and then.Aim: to spot the light on long-term symptoms in healthcare staff who are the first defence line in this pandemic and whose medical and psychological sufferings are underrepresented in studies.Methods: 120 male and female participants working in Ain-Shams University and Ministry of health and population hospitals who had been infected with COVID-19 virus at least 3 months ago were recruited. Presenting symptoms, staging, medications, symptoms 1 month and more than 3 months after infection were recorded. Results:The study participants aged between 23 and 62 years. fever was the most common presentation 57.5% followed by body aches in 44.2% and then anosmia in 41.7% of participants. Cough, dyspnea, fatigue and diarrhea were present in 37.5%, 33.3%, 35% and 19.2% respectively. Facial palsy and transient ischemic attack were presented each in one participant. Five participants experienced myocardial and pulmonary infarctions. Still 26.7% and 33.3% had dyspnea and fatigue after 3 months, 3 participants received antidepressants, 4 had memory problems. Parosmia, hair loss, oral ulcers and syncopal attacks emerged months after recovery. Odds ratio for symptoms after 3 months was 2.4 higher in participants aged ≥ 35 years. Conclusion:COVID-19 infection is unique in presentation and long-term symptoms which needs further large number of studies. Even young people and those with mild disease experience long term problems.

Fatigue and cognitive impairment in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…, Mei et al, 2021 , Evlice et al, 2021 ) to 70 ( Jacobson et al, 2021 , Johnsen et al, 2021 , Latronico et al, 2020 , Logue et al, 2021 , Menges et al, 2021 , Miskowiak et al, 2021 , Munblit et al, 2021 , Orrù et al, 2021 , Osmanov et al, 2021 , Pereira et al, 20212021 , Qu et al, 2021 , Rass et al, 2021;(ene.14803). , Savarraj et al, 2020 , Soldati et al, 2021 , Soraas et al, 2021 , Walle-Hansen et al, 2021 , Taboada et al, 2021 , Van Veenendaal et al, 2021 , Szende et al, 2014 , Amin-Chowdhury et al, 2021 , Augustin et al, 2021 ) Scores on wellness scale for children with 1 persistent symptom significantly declined when compared to before COVID-19 onset (from 90 ( Augustin et al, 2021 , Cirulli et al, 2020 , Darley et al, 2021 , Ferrucci et al, 2021 , Kashif et al, 2021 , O’Keefe et al, 2021 , Peghin et al, 2021 , Shang et al, 2021 , Simani et al, 2021 , Stavem et al, 2021 , Xiong et al, 2021 , González-Hermosillo et al, 2021 , Petersen et al, 20212021 , Tawfik et al, 2021;18(3):em291. , Mei et al, 2021 , Evlice et al, 2021 , Rauch et al, 2021 , Woo et al, 20202020 , Hopkins et al, 2020 , Jason et...…”

“…, Savarraj et al, 2020 , Soldati et al, 2021 , Soraas et al, 2021 , Walle-Hansen et al, 2021 , Taboada et al, 2021 , Van Veenendaal et al, 2021 , Szende et al, 2014 , Amin-Chowdhury et al, 2021 , Augustin et al, 2021 , Cirulli et al, 2020 , Darley et al, 2021 , Ferrucci et al, 2021 , Kashif et al, 2021 , O’Keefe et al, 2021 , Peghin et al, 2021 , Shang et al, 2021 , Simani et al, 2021 , Stavem et al, 2021 , Xiong et al, 2021 ) compared to pre-COVID (median 85 ( Qu et al, 2021 , Rass et al, 2021;(ene.14803). , Savarraj et al, 2020 , Soldati et al, 2021 , Soraas et al, 2021 , Walle-Hansen et al, 2021 , Taboada et al, 2021 , Van Veenendaal et al, 2021 , Szende et al, 2014 , Amin-Chowdhury et al, 2021 , Augustin et al, 2021 , Cirulli et al, 2020 , Darley et al, 2021 , Ferrucci et al, 2021 , Kashif et al, 2021 , O’Keefe et al, 2021 , Peghin et al, 2021 , Shang et al, 2021 , Simani et al, 2021 , Stavem et al, 2021 , Xiong et al, 2021 , González-Hermosillo et al, 2021 , Petersen et al, 20212021 , Tawfik et al, 2021;18(3):em291. , Mei et al, 2021 ,...…”

“…scores on wellness scale for children with 2+ persistent symptoms significantly declined when compared to before COVID-19 onset (from 90 ( Augustin et al, 2021 , Cirulli et al, 2020 , Darley et al, 2021 , Ferrucci et al, 2021 , Kashif et al, 2021 , O’Keefe et al, 2021 , Peghin et al, 2021 , Shang et al, 2021 , Simani et al, 2021 , Stavem et al, 2021 , Xiong et al, 2021 , González-Hermosillo et al, 2021 , Petersen et al, 20212021 , Tawfik et al, 2021;18(3):em291. , Mei et al, 2021 , Evlice et al, 2021 ) to 70 ( Jacobson et al, 2021 , Johnsen et al, 2021 , Latronico et al, 2020 , Logue et al, 2021 , Menges et al, 2021 , Miskowiak et al, 2021 , Munblit et al, 2021 , Orrù et al, 2021 , Osmanov et al, 2021 , Pereira et al, 20212021 , Qu et al, 2021 , Rass et al, 2021;(ene.14803).…”

Late peripheral facial paralysis after COVID-19: a rapid systematic review and two case reports

“… González-Castro [ 50 ] Spain Case report Intensive Care Unit 2 Patient 1: 40 years Patient 2: 65 years M and F Not reported PFP. Tawfik [ 51 ] Egypt Cohort study Hospital March 2021 1 29 years M Not reported Facial palsy. Kaplan [ 52 ] USA Case report Not reported April 2021 1 48 years F Lyme disease Bell’s palsy.…”

“…In the review, eight patients received the association of antivirals and corticotherapy, in consideration of a possible HSV infection [ 24 , 32 , 33 , 36 , 38 ]. Another 17 patients used antiviral drugs such as lopinavir/ritonavir, valacyclovir, and acyclovir to treat paralysis [ 11 , 25 , 51 , 53 ].…”