Recovered Covid-19 patients still suffer symptoms

Five clinics have been opened in Panama to deal with post-Covid-19 patients who are part of a significant number of people in the world who continue to suffer health problems after having overcome the initial infection.

The Ministry of Health (Minsa) says that since the pandemic began in March, just over 102,000 patients have recovered from Covid-19 in the country. However, some suffer from sequelae, such as shortness of breath or excessive fatigue.

Until October 19, the five clinics enabled by the Social Security Fund (CSS) to care for patients who overcame the virus received 560 people, of which 519 said they had conditions after their recovery.

A Ministry report details that, of those 372 of those treated were isolated in their homes, which surprises the health authorities, since this group suffered from the least aggressive form of the virus.

Among the most frequent complaints reported by patients are excessive tiredness, muscle and joint pain, shortness of breath and weakness.

Pulmonologists, such as Reynaldo Chandler, have stated that one of the main sequelae of the virus is pulmonary fibrosis (scars in the lungs), which causes the person to become agitated or feel lack of oxygen.

Calculations from the Pan American Health Organization reveal that 40% of Covid-19 cases develop mild ailments (fever, cough, dyspnea, fatigue, diarrhea, and headache), while another 40% have moderate symptoms (pneumonia). 15% develop severe clinical manifestations (severe pneumonia) that require oxygen support, and the remaining 5%, critical clinical pictures.