An update on Long COVID
Gary Grohmann A B * and Robert Booy B CA
B
C
Gary Grohmann BSc(Hons) PhD FASM (right) is a consultant virologist and a Director of Environmental Pathogens P/L, as well as a Board Member, and member of the Scientific Advisory Committee, of the Immunisation Coalition. He is an Adjunct Professor in Infectious Diseases and Immunology at The University of Sydney. He was Head of Immunobiology at the Therapeutic Goods Administration for 17 years and then a consultant to the World Health Organization on influenza and COVID‐19 matters for 7 years. |
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Robert Booy MBBS, MSc, MD, FRACP, FRCPCH (left) is a Senior Professorial Fellow, Children’s Hospital at Westmead School of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Sydney. He has over 300 publications and has supervised 30 doctoral students. Robert has a long-term interest in the control and prevention of serious infectious diseases. He was a Board Member of the Immunisation Coalition for 12 years and still serves on its Scientific Advisory Committee as Chair. |
Abstract
‘Long COVID’ is a major dilemma, difficult to diagnose and even more challenging to treat. Millions are still being affected globally and ~10% of people experience Long COVID following acute infection. Many complain about fatigue, brain fog and mental difficulties, and ~200 symptoms are described making diagnosis difficult. Both acute COVID-19 and Long COVID can cause organ damage – involving the heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain; as well as inflammation, and studies suggest that severe COVID-19 is dominated by endothelial and immunological dysfunction, and immunothrombosis. Diagnostic tests for Long COVID are largely in development and finding effective therapies for Long COVID has been a major challenge; however, it is likely that antivirals have a role in preventing and treating Long COVID. Real-world data support the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in reducing the risk of Long COVID. Long COVID remains a major challenge that needs considerable on-going research to determine effective treatments. The global public health emergency may be over but the fallout of Long COVID will be with us for some time.
Keywords: antiviral drugs, coronavirus, COVID-19, Long COVID, PASC, SARS-CoV-2.
Gary Grohmann BSc(Hons) PhD FASM (right) is a consultant virologist and a Director of Environmental Pathogens P/L, as well as a Board Member, and member of the Scientific Advisory Committee, of the Immunisation Coalition. He is an Adjunct Professor in Infectious Diseases and Immunology at The University of Sydney. He was Head of Immunobiology at the Therapeutic Goods Administration for 17 years and then a consultant to the World Health Organization on influenza and COVID‐19 matters for 7 years. |
Robert Booy MBBS, MSc, MD, FRACP, FRCPCH (left) is a Senior Professorial Fellow, Children’s Hospital at Westmead School of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Sydney. He has over 300 publications and has supervised 30 doctoral students. Robert has a long-term interest in the control and prevention of serious infectious diseases. He was a Board Member of the Immunisation Coalition for 12 years and still serves on its Scientific Advisory Committee as Chair. |
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