Two million people are estimated to be suffering from long Covid in the UK, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The ONS figures reported that around 3.1% Brits are struggling with symptoms that last for over four weeks after a Covid infection.
Over 370,000 people are reporting that symptoms have lasted for nearly two years, since the beginning of the pandemic.
Long Covid is for many a chronic condition, with symptoms generally grouped into three sections – respiratory symptoms, mental health and cognitive problems, as well as broad range of symptoms affecting different parts of the body.
New research has found two more symptoms being quite prevalent among long Covid sufferers. Here's what you need to know.
What are two new long Covid symptoms?
Hair loss and erectile dysfunction have joined the list of long Covid symptoms, according to a new study.
The study, which used anonymous health records of around 2.4 million people in the UK, found that long Covid symptoms were much wider than first thought, with patients reporting 62 symptoms after Covid infections.
Besides hair loss and erectile dysfunction, other symptoms discovered by researchers included loss of libido and bowel incontinence.
The study also found that some long Covid sufferers dealt with symptoms like amnesia, hallucinations, apraxia (inability to perform familiar movements or commands), and swelling in the limbs.
What are common long Covid symptoms?
Long Covid is most commonly associated with persistent fatigue and brain fog after infection. Other common symptoms include loss of the sense of smell, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fever.
According to the NHS site, other symptoms include:
- difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- heart palpitations
- dizziness
- pins and needles
- joint pain
- depression and anxiety
- tinnitus, earaches
- feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite
- headaches
- rashes
What increases long Covid risk?
The study, published in Nature Medicine, also identified key groups and behaviours that increased risk of developing long Covid.
Research suggests that females, younger people, and those belonging to a Black, mixed-race or other ethnic group are at higher risk of developing the long-term condition.
Those from a poorer background, smokers , those who are overweight and anyone with pre-existing health conditions were also found more likely to have persistent Covid symptoms.
While men with long Covid struggle with symptoms like erectile dysfunction, women were found more likely to experience autoimmune diseases.
Senior author Dr Shamil Haroon, associate clinical professor in public health at the University of Birmingham said: "This research validates what patients have been telling clinicians and policymakers throughout the pandemic – that the symptoms of long Covid are extremely broad and cannot be fully accounted for by other factors, such as lifestyle risk factors or chronic health conditions."
