Long-haul fatigue, etc. common after viral infections (SARS1,2, MERS, Swine, 1918,...)

Summary

• Some people have long-term health problems after any viral infection
• The exact fraction of people varies with the virus - varies from 10% to 60%
• The long-term problems can extend for months to years.
  • Sometimes the damage is permanent - example = lungs
• It is too early (Aug ) to know if long-term COVID-19 problems will last for more than 3 months
• The long-term problems occur without having had serious symptoms
• It appears that long-term COVID-19 problems favor women and those of middle age
  • vs COVID-19 favors men and elderly
• The most common long-term problem is Chronic Fatigue
  • Note to Athletes: Exercise can make Chronic Fatigue symptoms worse

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Vitamin D might help viral infections in many ways

• Reduce the risk of getting any enveloped viral infection
• Reduce the risk of getting a severe infection
• Normalize the immune system which has locked-on, which results in long-term problems
• Vitamin D can inhibit most enveloped virus
• Additional enveloped virus include: Epstein-Barr virus- Mononucleosis, Ebola, cold sore, Shingles, cytomegalovirus, Hepatitis B, HIV, Dengue, Yellow fever, Measles, Mumps, smallpox,
  • and all previous Coronavirus, such as SARS, MERS (no data yet on SARS-2 - too new)
• Swine Flu Influenza (H1N1) of 2009 Wikipedia
  • Infected ~1 Billion, Killed ~284,000

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80 percent of COVID-19 survivors have long-haul symptoms – meta-analysis Jan 30, 2021

Long-COVID in VitaminDWiki

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Probably less long-haul COVID-19 when immune system was regenerated by Vitamin D, etc. – Dec 2020

Probably fewer long-haul COVID-19 problems when rejuvenated immune system (Vitamin D, etc.)– Dec 2020

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Several alternative COVID-19 treatments greatly reduce long-haul symptoms - Feb 2021

Mercola - Feb 2021

• Using various combinations of nebulized peroxide oral vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin D, iodine, intravenous hydrogen peroxide and iodine as well as intravenous (IV) vitamin C, and hydroxychloroquine
  • Note: Most of the alternatives boost the immune system

Snips from reports of Long-haul Covid = longcovid = post-Covid syndrome

• Sequelae in Adults at 6 Months After COVID-19 Infection JAMA Feb 2021
  • "as long as 9 months after illness, approximately 30% reported persistent symptoms"
• 77 Clinical trials for long-haul COVID As of Jan 8, 2021
  • Note: There are more trials for long-haul than for Vitamin D treatment of COVID-19
• Long-Haul COVID-19: Putative Pathophysiology, Risk Factors, and Treatments - Dec 10, 2020
  • One puzzling feature of long-haul COVID-19 is that it is not predicted by initial disease severity.
  • Long-haul COVID-19 affects even mild-to-moderate cases and younger adults that do not require respiratory support or intensive care.

• {ATTACH(inline="1" id="14833" icon="1")}Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki{ATTACH
• ‘Long haul’ Covid: With almost 600,000 UK sufferers, the professor studying post-Covid syndrome tells us what we know so far Aug 12, 2020
  • found 12 % have symptoms longer than 30 days, and one in 200 for more than 90 days.
  • post-Covid syndrome, who tend to not be so ill they need hospitalization,
    • but can find themselves bed-bound and unable to work?
  • ..found a “slight excess of females to males”, roughly 60:40, and says it impacts most age groups, and more so in those in their thirties and forties. “Older people don’t tend to get long-term symptoms,.."
• 6 Diver's lungs permanently damaged by COVID-19 April 2020
  • and, they did not even go into a hospital
  • But none of them can dive anymore. "The damage to the lungs is irreversible,"
• Fatigue plagues thousands suffering post-coronavirus symptoms Financial Times Aug 2, 2020
  • "Referred to as long-haul Covid, longcovid, or tentatively by the medical community as ‘post-Covid syndrome’,.."
  • " Recent analysis by the Covid Symptom Study suggested that as many as one in 10 people with Covid-19 have been sick for more than three weeks after symptoms first emerge. Some of the most pernicious problems faced by the group of long-haulers are chronic fatigue, high temperature, insomnia, headaches, brain fog, tingling sensations and dizziness."
  • " John Geddes, professor of epidemiology at the University of Oxford, believes that protracted illness is likely to be caused by the virus getting into the nerve cells of the brain. Others suggest that an elevated immune response to the virus may be damaging the cells in key parts of the body."
  • " Following the 2003 Sars outbreak in Asia, researchers found that 60 per cent of patients had post-viral fatigue and insomnia one year after contracting the virus. "
  • " The Ebola outbreak in west Africa in 2014 led to the identification of a unique “post-Ebola Syndrome”, which shared some symptoms with chronic fatigue and lasted up to two years after infection. "
• 55 % of coronavirus patients still have neurological problems three-months later behind paywall Aug 6, 2020
• I’m a COVID-19 long-hauler and an epidemiologist – here’s how it feels when symptoms last for months Aug 11, 2020
  • COVID-19 support groups show that there are many people not considered sick enough to be hospitalized – yet they are experiencing symptoms worse than the flu. It is possible COVID-19 is neurotoxic and is one of the first illnesses capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier. This might explain why many people like me have neurological problems. Many long-haulers are experiencing post-viral symptoms similar to those caused by mononucleosis and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.
  • A big challenge long-haulers face may be sustaining employment. Ultimately, it is too early to classify long-haulers as having a disability. Anthony Fauci reported that “it will take months to a year or more to know whether lingering COVID-19 symptoms in young people could be chronic illnesses.”
  • Influenza has long been linked to persistent symptoms such as fatigue and muscle pain,
    • including after both the 1890 and 1918-19 pandemics.
  • Survival of a severe viral pneumonia or ARDS, particularly after intensive care, is known to have long-lasting implications. Some survivors suffer long-term breathlessness and fatigue as a result of the damage to their lungs or from other complications. Survivors can also suffer depression (26–33%), anxiety (38–44%), or post-traumatic stress disorder (22–24%).
• Here’s what we know so far about the long-term symptoms of COVID-19 July 26, 2020
  • Canadian researchers followed survivors of the first SARS outbreak in Toronto. They found sleep disturbance, chronic fatigue, depression and muscle pains were common. A third of survivors had to modify their work and lifestyle, and only 14% had no long-term symptoms.
  • Similarly, in a Korean group of MERS survivors, 48% still experienced chronic fatigue after 12 months
• Long-haulers are redefining COVID-19 Aug 26
  • Some potential treatments we have learned from management of fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia/myalgic encephalomyelitis syndrome that may be transferrable to post-COVID patients are:
    • 1. Energy support for severe fatigue: CoQ10, ashwaganda, ginseng, DHEA, high potency B vitamins, carnitine and hormones.
    • 2. Immune support: Vitamins C, D, zinc, mushroom extract, probiotics, sleep and stress management.
    • 3. Inflammation: anti-inflammatory diet, Zyflamend, fish oil, turmeric and ginger (activate VDR).
    • 4. Pain management, mood and brain issues: cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, meditation, graded mental and physical rehabilitation exercises, acupuncture, yoga, tai chi, SAMe, ginkgo, cannabinoids, magnesium and medications.
• dysautonomia: heart, brain, gastrointestinal and immune systems. Headaches, diarrhea, shortness of breath, chest pain, mood disorders, brain fog and profound fatigue with minimal exertion can characterize this condition.

• Long-lasting COVID-19 symptoms: Patients want answers Aug 11
  • "A small study of 143 previously hospitalized, recovering patients in Italy found that 87.4% of the cohort had at least one persistent symptom 2 months or longer after initial onset and at more than a month after discharge."
• Covid-19 Long Haulers: Meaning, Symptoms, Support Groups July 12
  • Italian study: "At an average of 60 days after initial onset of symptoms, only “12.6% were completely free of any COVID-19–related symptom, while 32% had 1 or 2 symptoms and 55% had 3 or more” 4. These patients were sent home, as if they were well, and yet they had symptoms. The most common symptoms were: “fatigue (53.1%), dyspnea (43.4%), joint pain, (27.3%) and chest pain (21.7%).” Dyspnea is difficulty breathing."
• Management of post-acute covid-19 in primary care BMJ Aug 11 FREE PDF
  • "Approximately 10% of people experience prolonged illness after covid-19"
  • 
• Warp Speed Help for COVID Long Haulers and ME/CFS July 30
  • "... research on post-epidemic and post-infection recovery shows many viruses leave in their wake patients who experience an onset of post-viral fatigue and/or ME/CFS-like symptoms. This has been true of SARS, MERS, West Nile, H1N1 flu, Ebola and Epstein-Barr."
  • In March "I hope that COVID doesn’t lead to an increase in ME/CFS, but I suspect that… it’s something that we should be prepared for.”
  • "Fauci acknowledged three times in one week that LongCovid is “highly suggestive of myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.”
• An Offering: ME/CFS Resources and Support for the COVID-19 Long Haulers Aug 5
  • " Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has had one salutary outcome – for the first time, people with post-infectious illnesses are being accounted for and are starting to be studied. Those studies, however, will take time."
• RESOURCES FOR COVID-19 “LONG-HAULERS” FROM THE ME/CFS COMMUNITY Aug 4
  • "Many long-haulers reveal that these and other symptoms often worsen after attempting simple daily activities and mild exercise, placing some in a never-ending loop of illness and disability."
  • "I suspect people recovering at home and their doctors…do not realize it may be exertion—both mental and physical—that is causing their symptoms to return. Without instituting careful pacing, people suffer, and their recovery is delayed.” "
  • "Standard rehabilitation approaches (i.e., graded exercise) may be harmful and worsen prospects for recovery in the subset of long-haulers who experience symptom exacerbation after physical and cognitive activity."
  • ~30% of Hong Kong SARS survivors met the CDC’s criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
  • Questions
    • Is this the natural course of a SARS-CoV-19 infection for a subset of people?
    • Is this a form of post-viral fatigue?
    • are the long-term symptoms indicative of myalgic encephalomyelitis
• Research Examines Links Between 'Long COVID' and ME/CFS Medscape Aug 24
  • "chronic fatigue was listed as the top symptom among individuals still feeling unwell beyond 2 weeks after COVID-19 onset."
  • "diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS, which is defined by substantial, profound fatigue for at least 6 months, postexertional malaise, unrefreshing sleep, and one or both of orthostatic intolerance and/or cognitive impairment. Although the etiology of ME/CFS is unclear, the condition commonly arises following a viral illness."
  • Toronto study: " SARS-CoV-1 and continued to report chronic fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and disturbed and unrefreshing sleep with EEG-documented sleep disturbances 1 to 3 years following the illness. None had been able to return to work by 1 year.
  • "With ME/CFS, post-exertional malaise often involves a dramatic exacerbation of symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and cognitive impairment a day or two after exertion rather than immediately following it. In contrast, shortness of breath during exertion isn't typical of ME/CFS."
• Coronavirus COVID-19 Long Term Effects - Researched & Explained Aug 9
  • "91% of respondents in the Confirmed Case Long-Hauler Survey of 1,500 individuals reported that they experienced extreme and chronic fatigue.
  • Symptoms: 82% >2 months, 41.9% >3 months, 12.5% >4 months.
  • Based on a study done at University Hospital Frankfurt in Germany, it appears as if heart damage is independent of the severity of the COVID-19 case.
• Long after the fire of a Covid-19 infection, mental and neurological effects can still smolder Aug 12
  • "As many as 1 in 3 patients recovering from Covid-19 could experience neurological or psychological after-effects of their infections,"
    • headache, dizziness, and lingering loss of smell or taste to mood disorders and deeper cognitive impairment
• What Medicine’s Own COVID Long-Haulers Have Faced The Atlantic Nov 24, 2021
• To Help People With Long Covid, Scientists Need to Define It Wired Nov 24 2021,
  • "Patients with the perplexing syndrome have reported 200 different symptoms. Researchers will have to decide which to study—and rule out."
  • Study findings:"The thing that most predicted whether patients developed long Covid symptoms was whether they believed they had been infected, not whether their infection could be lab-confirmed."

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See also in VitaminDWiki

• Long-COVID in VitaminDWiki
• 1 in 8 Recovered COVID-19 Patients Die Within 5 Months - Jan 18, 2021
• 6 months after COVID-19 hospitalization 76 percent still had at least one symptom – Jan 8, 2021
• COVID-19 survivors can have poor health for a long time

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue

• Overview Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue and vitamin D
• Fibromyalgia treated with Vitamin D (50,000 IU weekly for 3 months) – 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
  • Note: Chronic Fatigue is common after COVID-19, somtimes lasting for many months

Virus

• Virus category listing has 1395 items along with related searches
• Vitamin D may protect against Ebola
• Four antiviral strategies – includes vitamin D – Vasquez Dec 2014
• Valley fever may be prevented and treated with Vitamin D
• Overview HIV and vitamin D
• Shingles and vitamin D

Items in both categories Virus and Vitamin D Receptor:

Hepatitis

• Vitamin D prevents Hepatitis-C and helps treat it (many studies)
• Hepatitis B clinical event was 2X more likely if low vitamin D – Oct 2014
• Hepatitis B virus and Vitamin D - many studies

Influenza and Colds

• Overview Influenza and vitamin D
• Vitamin D probably can both prevent Influenza and augment vaccine effectiveness – Aug 2018
• Influenza prevented by 40 ng levels or treated with vitamin D hammer (50,000 IU) – June 2015
• 7X less risk of influenza if Vitamin D levels higher than 30 ng – Oct 2017
• Influenza of 1918 and vitamin D - July 2010
• Number of people to treat to prevent 1 case of flu: Vitamin D 4, Vaccination 40 – Feb 2017 Mercola
• FLU FAQ
• Reduce probability of getting the Flu
• Overview Colds and flu and Vitamin D

Flu has the following
Vitamin D fights all phases of Influenza

• FACT: Vitamin D PREVENTS Influenza 7X lower risk
• FACT: Vitamin D SUPRESSES Influenza ( Vitamin D Hammer )
  • Single dose of 50,000 IU of vitamin D stops Influenza symptoms
• FACT: Vitamin D PREVENTS & SUPRESSES Sepsis which is a rare but deadly consequence of Influenza
• FACT: Vitamin D enhances the activity of vaccines.
• FACT: improves Flu vaccine effectiveness and reduces side effects
• FACT: Vitamin D has virtually no side effects
  • but 1 in 300 get people get muscle pain or itching due to lower magnesium levels
• FACT: Vitamin D prevents/suppresses over 120 health problems (left column)
• FACT: Both COVID-19 and Influenza are enveloped viruses
  • Vitamin D can inhibit enveloped virus (e.g. Corona, Herpes, Bird Flu, Epstein, Hepatitis, RSV, etc.) – March 2011
• FACT: Do not take vitamin D if Sarcoidosis, excess Calcium, Chemotherapy
• CONCLUSION To help protect/suppress influenza, take 50,000 IU of Vitamin D once a week
     during the flu season if you are an average weight adult

Virus and Breathing studies:

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69+ VitaminDWiki pages have LONG-HAUL or LONG-COVID in the title