RECOVERED Covid-19 patients can continue to experience changes to the senses of smell and taste, shortness of breath and fatigue long after the infection is cleared, with what is known as “post-Covid-19 syndrome” or “long Covid”.

The symptoms can last for months after the infection has gone. Studies show the experience is different for each patient.

Retired headmaster Elias Dasuki told The Malaysian Insight he continued to suffer fatigue, heart palpitations and chest pain after he was discharged from hospital.

His was among the earliest cases of Covid-19 in Malaysia last year. The infection had left the 65-year-old was in a coma for almost a month. 

“I was found positive in March 2020 and warded in the intensive care unit of Hospital Sultanah Aminah in Johor Baru.

“Against all odds, I recovered but I had post-Covid syndrome for about three months. I weighed 47kg when I was discharged. Prior to that I was 75kg.

“Now I have fully recovered and I feel fine. I can exercise and eat well,” said Elias.

Saiful Hisyam Md Salleh, a PhD candidate at the Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom, said he lost his sense of taste for almost a month after recovery. He tested positive in May.

While infected, the 38-year-old communication student said he experienced severe fatigue and shortness of breath.

“The symptoms I had were quite bad. I experienced severe shortness of breath. For example, it took a while to complete my daytime and night-time prayers. I felt tired even when I was doing light work,” Saiful said.

“I could not feel anything or smell anything. Everything was tasteless. Even eating spicy Korean ramen was nothing to me.”

Saiful said he recovered from shortness of breath and fatigue three weeks after being cleared of the virus.

“But my sense of taste only just came back last week,” he said.

Another Covid-19 survivor, Najat Amer Nurdin, 31, tested positive in early April but was asymptomatic.

She continued to experience fatigue and headaches after recovering.

“I felt tired easily. After taking a walk, I would get tired and also have a headache. In the mornings when I was up, I would cough.”

She was treated with Panadol for her headaches and is now back to normal after about two weeks.

There is still no fixed treatment for Covid-19, and patients with milder symptoms are treated according to what they display – Panadol for fevers and headaches, cough medicine for coughs.

There is also nothing much a recovered patient with post-Covid-19 syndrome can do, except to eat and stay healthy and give time for the body to recover.

Former patient, Dina, said shortness of breath and appetite loss were her main problems after being cleared of the virus.

“It took me three weeks to recover from post-Covid-19 syndrome,” said the 25-year-old from Klang who only wanted to be known by her first name.

“Although I had been released and cleared of the virus, I still felt tired and had trouble breathing. I did not eat that much either. It was only three weeks later that I felt better.”

Dina said she was an asymptomatic case when she tested positive after coming into close contact with an infected person. She was ill during Hari Raya last month and spent a total of 10 days at a quarantine centre and another four at home.

Former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye, who is also a medical doctor, said those with long Covid or the post-infection syndrome will mostly have fatigue, diminished lung function and loss of smell, among other problems.

They might also experience insomnia and mental stress, he added.

But they will not experience harm to other organs nor face chronic illnesses such as kidney problems or diabetes, Lee said.

“They will recover from the post-Covid syndrome but as to how long it may last, studies have yet to find a definite answer.

“This coronavirus is only 18 months old,” he said, citing a study from the United Kingdom.

According to a clinical test by the Health Ministry, some 662 former Covid-19 patients suffered “Post-Covid Syndrome”.

The number was taken from 1,004 patients who were in Category 4 and 5 of the infection and who underwent follow-up treatment after they were discharged.

Though they survived, both Dina and Najat are now afraid to go out.

“I feel scared to be outside. I avoid being in crowded places,” said Dina.

Najat also feels some stigma is attached to former Covid-19 patients.

“I had an invitation cancelled prior to the MCO because the organiser was afraid that I might infect others,” said Najat.

Dina feels counselling sessions should be made available for recovered patients who suffer from mental stress.

“At the quarantine centre we talked about the stigma of becoming former patients. It is real and there should be some sort of help given to Covid-19 survivors who are struggling mentally,” Dina added. – June 18, 2021.