COVID-19, also known as “Coronavirus”, is a complex disease, and it’s certainly not “just the flu.” There have been numerous complications reported by COVID patients, and some even report odd symptoms months after their initial diagnosis!
There’s still a lot to learn about this pandemic, which is why it’s important that you keep your family medicine doctors in the loop. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, you need to follow up with your physicians at Matthews Internal Medicine. If you end up experiencing more symptoms or even another infection, we’re ready to help. Here are some reasons why you need to stay in communication with your internist if you have tested positive for COVID-19.
Getting Infected Again is Possible
Your body fights back when it gets sick, and in many cases, it learns a lot about the enemy in the process. As a result, you can become less likely to be infected by the same disease again in the future. That’s why something like the flu mutates and creates new strains. It’s trying to get past our natural defenses.
Unfortunately, that same immune response may not be offering some patients the same amount of future protection against COVID-19. There are already some studies that have shown that people can get infected with COVID-19 again, less than a year after initially contracting it.
In some cases, this may be because the symptoms from the first infection were not that severe or did not stick around long enough to allow the body to form its own adaptive immune response to the virus. That’s why following up with your doctor is so important even if coronavirus did not really hit you that hard.
Long-Term Side Effects
We still have a lot we need to understand about COVID-19, but one thing that’s come as a surprise to many is the sheer number of lingering effects that this virus can leave behind. Even people who have had a more mild experience with the coronavirus can end up seeing more symptoms after their initial recovery from the disease.
These long haulers can experience fatigue, coughs, joint pain, shortness of breath, and sleep problems weeks or months after they were infected. COVID-19 is also known to cause lasting damage to the heart, lungs, and brain. This is not just happening to people with underlying medical conditions. Healthy and young people are experiencing these side effects as well.
This is not just the flu. It’s not just affecting people who are unhealthy. COVID-19 can have long-term effects on just about anyone, so following up with your doctor once you’ve received a diagnosis is critical. Do not hesitate to make an appointment if you believe you are suffering from additional symptoms.
Your Internal Medicine Practice in Matthews, NC
Just because you’re tired of hearing about COVID-19, that doesn’t mean that it’s done with us. The coronavirus is still out there and it’s still spreading rapidly. If you experience any symptoms, make an appointment with Matthews Internal Medicine right away. And if you tested positive for COVID-19 in the recent past, make sure that you keep following up with your doctors to report any symptoms or oddities. We’ll get through this pandemic by being careful and vigilant.