Post-COVID-19 Syndrome in Egyptian Healthcare Staff: Highlighting the Carers Sufferings

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) represents a devastating crisis continuing for more than a year up till now with new emerging presentations and complications every now and then. Aim: to spot the light on long-term symptoms in healthcare staff who are the first defence line in this pandemic and whose medical and psychological sufferings are underrepresented in studies. Methods: 120 male and female participants working in Ain-Shams University and Ministry of health and population hospitals who had been infected with COVID-19 virus at least 3 months ago were recruited. Presenting symptoms, staging, medications, symptoms 1 month and more than 3 months after infection were recorded. Results: The study participants aged between 23 and 62 years. fever was the most common presentation 57.5% followed by body aches in 44.2% and then anosmia in 41.7% of participants. Cough, dyspnea, fatigue and diarrhea were present in 37.5%, 33.3%, 35% and 19.2% respectively. Facial palsy and transient ischemic attack were presented each in one participant. Five participants experienced myocardial and pulmonary infarctions. Still 26.7% and 33.3% had dyspnea and fatigue after 3 months, 3 participants received antidepressants, 4 had memory problems. Parosmia, hair loss, oral ulcers and syncopal attacks emerged months after recovery. Odds ratio for symptoms after 3 months was 2.4 higher in participants aged >= 35 years. Conclusion: COVID-19 infection is unique in presentation and long-term symptoms which needs further large number of studies. Even young people and those with mild disease experience long term problems.

Automated summary

The study highlights the long-term symptoms in healthcare staff infected with COVID-19, shedding light on the diverse and persistent manifestations that require further large-scale studies. Participants aged 35 years and older had a higher likelihood of experiencing long-term symptoms.