Queensland Health is investigating the possibility of establishing long COVID clinics as the third wave of Omicron intensifies.
Key points:
- Researchers at Griffith University are investigating the biological links between long COVID and patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome
- Based on their work, Griffith’s team has identified the low dose of naltrexone as a possible treatment.
- Long-COVID again suffered from the establishment of clinics for the disease in Queensland
The department has confirmed that a COVID project officer has begun to fill the position and is contacting key stakeholders, including GP groups, to learn more about Queenslanders experiencing continued symptoms for at least three months after ‘a diagnosis of COVID-19.
South Australia, Victoria, NSW and the ACT have already established long COVID clinics.
Queensland Health Director John Gerrard said it was too early to find out what the impact of long COVID would be on the state of the sun, as it had only been subject to Omicron waves when the population was highly vaccinated.
“We still don’t know if people who are properly vaccinated with the Omicron strain are less likely to see long-term COVID syndrome,” Dr. Gerrard said.
“People may have long COVID even if they are vaccinated, but in a population vaccinated with Omicron, the incidence of long COVID may be lower.
“We are waiting for the data to arrive.”
Researchers at Griffith University are investigating the biological links between long COVID and patients diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome or ME / CFS.
Common symptoms include persistent fatigue, even after rest, sleep disturbances, memory problems, brain fog, and pain.
ME / CFS researcher Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, based at the National Center for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases at Griffith University on the Gold Coast, is comparing long-term patients with COVID with those with ME / CFS and healthy controls, analyzing brain scans and blood test results.
Professor Marshall-Gradisnik said they were investigating whether cell dysfunction identified by Griffith’s team in patients with ME / CFS was also present in people experiencing post-COVID symptoms that could not be explained by another. diagnosis.
From their work, Griffith’s team has identified low-dose naltrexone as a possible treatment for MS / CFS, a drug that is already being tested for long-term patients with COVID internationally.
Higher doses of naltrexone are used to treat drug and alcohol addiction, but it has also been shown experimentally at low doses that it acts on a cellular protein that is dysfunctional in patients with ME / CFS and potentially in people with long COVID.
“Because COVID is in its early stages, research informs us as we move forward to address this potential public health situation, so we need more research,” said Professor Marshall-Gradisnik.
“The sooner the better” the clinics are established
Jo-Ann Cuthbertson had to give up her job as a wholesaler. (Provided by: Jo Cuthbertson)
Jo-Ann Cuthbertson, 55, of Tannum Sands, southeast of Gladstone on the central coast of Queensland, tested positive for COVID-19 in March and has had continued symptoms ever since.
“I’m suffering,” he said. “I have pains all over my body. There is fog and just fatigue, so tired … I also lose my breath. I’m out of breath all the time.
“I drive my car, but I can only go that far. I just go up the road. I can’t drive the 25 minutes to Gladstone to do anything. I have to get someone else to drive me. I get too dizzy and it’s very hard to concentrate. se “.
Mrs. Cuthbertson, who also has rheumatoid arthritis, had to quit her job working for a wholesaler after being laid off due to illness and vacation and can no longer play in the grass bowls like she did before becoming infected. with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
He supported the establishment of long COVID clinics in Queensland, including regional areas.
“It would be a place to gather information from all of us to see what works and what doesn’t work and help everyone,” said Ms. Cuthbertson, who was due to receive her third COVID-19 vaccine when she tested positive.
Aviva Finberg said her doctors could not tell her if her symptoms would last six months or two years. (Supplied by: Aviva Finberg)
Brisbane woman Aviva Finberg also strongly supports the establishment of long COVID clinics after being diagnosed by her GP.
“The sooner, the better,” the 57-year-old said.
He developed COVID-19 in February and has since had to quit his volunteer job due to ongoing debilitating symptoms such as excessive tiredness, balance problems and cognitive problems such as difficulties with ” find words “.
“The word might be something as simple as apple or banana, but I get frustrated because I try to tell the person, ‘It’s that thing, you know. It’s fruit, it’s round,'” Ms. Finberg said.
Because very little is known about long COVID, he said his doctors could not tell him if his symptoms would last six months or two years.
“It’s really a challenge,” Ms. Finberg said. “It has affected me a lot psychologically. I think I have aged before my time is how I express it.”
The president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in Queensland, Bruce Willett, said GPs were “sweating” with the creation of long COVID clinics.
“We’re really starting to see cases coming,” Dr. Willett said. “They are not big numbers, but … we all hope it grows.
“I think many of these cases we will be able to treat in general practice, but there will be a number of people who will have more severe symptoms that will require additional attention.”
Dr. Willett said long-term COVID patients with extreme symptoms would need help from rehabilitation specialists and, most importantly, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and exercise physiologists to safely regain their functionality.
He said psychologists were often also important in helping patients cope with the syndrome.
Queensland had 744 people in hospital yesterday with COVID-19, including 15 who required intensive care.
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to search, up and down arrows for volume. Clock duration: 2 minutes 9 seconds 2 m 9 s Australians over 30 years of age to be eligible for the fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
What you need to know about coronavirus:
Loading form …