TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The pandemic is gradually stabilizing in Taiwan. According to doctors, however, many COVID patients have lasting symptoms, such as frequent insomnia and a strange sense of smell and taste. Doctors are urging high-risk groups, such as elders over 65, to get vaccinated.
Liu Wang-ta, a National Taiwan University Hospital doctor, explained that "the most common (condition) is insomnia, and this often cannot be treated with sleeping pills or anti-anxiety drugs. Some have more unusual symptoms, like a weird sense of smell and taste. Although this problem is relatively rare in the Omicron variant, it is still possible."
According to a French study published in an international journal, in research conducted during the acute infection period, 2,647 people had at least one persistent symptom. Also, 861 people still had the symptom after the critical period of over two months.
The research team followed these 861 people for a year and a half, and for about 89.9%, the persistent symptoms were eventually gone within one year. Only around 10% of the surveyed still had symptoms after one year.
The most common persistent symptoms were memory loss, sleep disturbances, loss of smell or hearing impairment, and arthralgia. According to the survey, women over 60 with a BMI over 30 and a history of smoking or cancer may see their symptoms go away more slowly.
"Many patients with lasting symptoms will go to outpatient clinics, so any specialist should be aware that your patients may have lasting symptoms from COVID-19," said Chiang Guan-yu, a doctor at the Taipei City Hospital.
"So do immediately deny the patient's symptoms if they say they have shortness of breath and chest tightness, and their sleep condition is not good. Some might even feel tired," added Chiang.
As Taiwan is now on the path to co-existing with the virus, doctors still encourage all to wear masks whenever possible, especially at this time of the year, when large gatherings occur.