In severe cases
Around 10–15%Trusted Source of people who develop COVID-19 experience severe symptoms, and approximately 5% become critically ill. People with severe symptoms can also experience long COVID.
In addition, people with a more severe form of the illness may be more likely to experience complications. As the WHOTrusted Source note, the complications can involve damage to:
The lungs: An August 2020 studyTrusted Source found that people with severe COVID-19 are often discharged with signs of pulmonary fibrosis, a type of lung damage. In some people, it can cause long-term breathing difficulties.
The heart: According to a June 2020 review, 20–30% of people hospitalized with COVID-19 have signs that the illness has affected their heart muscle. The researchers speculate that in some people, COVID-19 may also cause myocarditis, inflammation of this muscle.
The nervous system: An April 2020 studyTrusted Source with 214 participants found that people with severe COVID-19 were more likely to experience neurological manifestations, such as dizziness, nerve pain, and impaired consciousness.
Currently, doctors are not sure how these complications will affect people in the long term.
People who spend time in the hospital and require mechanical ventilation may also experience other difficulties. A July 2020 studyTrusted Source lists the following complications of ventilator treatment:
chipped teeth
lacerated lips, tongue, or throat
injured vocal cords
infection
hypoxia
hypotension
collapsed lung
heart rhythm problems
People who leave the hospital after having COVID-19 need ongoing support and rehabilitation to help them recover.
|