Abstract:
Clinical sequelae of a disease as widespread as COVID-19 can be of great importance for primary care due to their prevalence and the morbidity they entail. The definition of long COVID and the establishment of its temporality are various, but some authors consider possible that this syndrome is actually myalgic encephalomyelitis.
Similarities are observed when comparing the International Consensus Criteria for the diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis with the symptoms described for long COVID. Blood tests, pulse oximetry, chest radiography, and thoracic ultrasound are recommended in patients with persistent symptoms after acute infection. Management in both conditions consists of treating the main symptoms. The possibility that COVID-19 can lead to a chronic condition such as myalgic encephalomyelitis makes long-term follow-up of patients who have suffered from this infection essential.
Source: Espinosa Rodríguez, P et al. “COVID persistente: ¿es en realidad una encefalomielitis miálgica? Revisión bibliográfica y consideraciones” [Long COVID: Is it really myalgic encephalomyelitis? Bibliographic review and considerations]. Semergen, S1138-3593(21)00091-5. 13 Sep. 2021, doi:10.1016/j.semerg.2021.03.006 [Abstract in English, Spanish] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8437705/ (Full text)