Doctors in India are facing significant challenges in diagnosing and treating long Covid due to a lack of comprehensive guidelines, while researchers have noted a shortage of studies on the condition. Following the World Health Organization’s announcement in May 2023 that Covid was no longer a global health emergency, there has been a renewed focus on understanding the prevalence of long Covid. Long Covid encompasses a range of persistent symptoms—such as cough, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, brain fog, and difficulties with concentration—that can linger long after the initial Covid infection.
Studies suggest that about one-third of individuals who experienced moderate to severe Covid infections may develop long Covid, though incidence rates vary by region. A study from Harvard Medical School found that approximately 31% of infected individuals in North America, 44% in Europe, and 51% in Asia experience long Covid, indicating a significant strain on healthcare systems with limited treatment guidelines available. In India, research on long Covid is scarce.
A study by Maulana Azad Medical College found that around 45% of patients recovering from Covid experienced lingering symptoms, particularly fatigue and dry cough. The authors highlighted the need for more exploratory research to understand the long-term outcomes of long Covid. Dr.
Rajesh Sagar from AIIMS in New Delhi emphasized that our understanding of long Covid is still evolving, making it difficult to establish e.
