"Can't Live Normally" Even After Full Recovery, Lung Damage and Breathlessness... Serious COVID-19 Aftereffects

COVID-19 Survivors Complain of Brain Fog, Chest Pain, and Skin Discoloration
Health Authorities Warn "Young People Also at Risk... Vigilance Must Not Lapse"
Experts Emphasize "Awareness of COVID-19 Aftereffects Is Crucial... Extra Caution Needed"

A high proportion of patients continue to suffer from aftereffects even after being declared recovered from the novel coronavirus infection. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] As the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues to prolong, cases of individuals suffering from various aftereffects even after being declared fully recovered are increasing. Recovered patients are experiencing aftereffects such as shortness of breath, memory decline, hair loss, and are reported to have difficulties in their daily lives due to these symptoms.

In particular, there is growing concern as COVID-19 aftereffects, previously known to mainly occur in high-risk groups, are now appearing among young recovered patients in their 20s and 30s, emphasizing the need to maintain vigilance.

Experts suggest that the seriousness of COVID-19 aftereffects must be recognized and that extra caution is necessary to avoid infection.

Park Hyun, an adjunct professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Pusan National University and the 47th confirmed COVID-19 case in Busan, revealed that since being declared fully recovered in March, he has been suffering from severe aftereffects such as chest and other body pains, memory deterioration, and skin discoloration for five months. After discharge, Professor Park has been posting his battle story under the pseudonym 'Busan47' on social networking services (SNS) to warn about the dangers of COVID-19.

On the 17th of last month, Professor Park mentioned brain fog, chest and abdominal pain, skin discoloration, and chronic fatigue as COVID-19 aftereffects on his Facebook, emphasizing, "Do not be deceived by the word 'recovered'."

He explained, "The brain fog phenomenon, where the head feels foggy and it becomes difficult to remember and concentrate, has been persisting for quite a long time," adding, "I also experienced symptoms starting with headaches from the back of the neck, followed by a sensation as if my head was throbbing."

Park Hyun, an adjunct professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Pusan National University who is experiencing aftereffects of the novel coronavirus infection, also posted about his battle on social networking services (SNS). Photo by Yonhap News Agency

COVID-19 aftereffects are no exception even among young people in their 20s and 30s. Lee Jeonghwan (25), who was confirmed positive after arriving from Turkey in early April and has since recovered, complained of severe hair loss.

Lee appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyunjung's News Show' last month and said, "I had no hair loss before contracting COVID-19, but about a month after being hospitalized, my hair started falling out a lot," adding, "During treatment, the white bed was covered with hair, and even now, when I shower at home, so much hair goes down the drain that it clogs."

Recently, an online community post titled 'COVID-19 Recovery Review of a Woman in Her 20s (With Aftereffects)' was uploaded. The author shared, "I was discharged after two negative tests 37 days later through natural healing," and "I quit my job and am recuperating at home. Aftereffects I was unaware of during treatment appeared as soon as I started daily life again."

She added, "If I overexert myself even a little, I can't breathe properly and feel suffocated. Headaches that feel like they resonate from my nose to my head occur," and "Due to abnormal sense of smell, it was hard to tell if food was spoiled, so I ate spoiled food and had stomachaches once or twice."

The situation is no different in other countries. According to the UK Guardian on the 6th (local time), a research team led by Dr. Sabine Sahanik at the Innsbruck Clinic in Austria recently followed up on 86 patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 and recovered, finding that a significant number of them suffer from severe aftereffects such as lung damage and shortness of breath.

According to detailed analysis, 88% of patients still showed lung damage symptoms six weeks after discharge from the hospital, and 47% of patients were confirmed to have shortness of breath.

A paper published in the medical journal 'Journal of the American Medical Association' (JAMA) in July surveyed 143 acute COVID-19 patients from April 21 to May 29, revealing that even after recovery, they exhibited various aftereffects including fatigue (53.1%), shortness of breath (43.4%), joint pain (27.3%), and chest pain (21.7%).

The health authorities introduced overseas cases showing that after recovering from COVID-19, various sequelae appear in the respiratory, cardiovascular, and neuropsychiatric systems, urging caution. Photo by Yonhap News

Not only severe patients but also mild cases can experience aftereffects. A survey conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on 274 individuals who recovered asymptomatically or with mild symptoms found that 35% experienced low-grade fever, fatigue, cough, and other symptoms, indicating they had not fully returned to their pre-infection state.

Given this situation, voices are rising that vigilance against COVID-19 should not be relaxed. Since cases showing severe aftereffects after recovery are increasing, adhering to personal hygiene rules is considered the most important preventive measure.

An office worker, A (28), said, "Seeing the aftereffect symptoms of recovered patients, I think we should not let our guard down just because we are young," adding, "There are many cases where daily life is almost impossible. Thinking about me or my family going through that is very frightening. I will make sure to wear masks both outdoors and indoors and follow preventive measures like handwashing more strictly."

Health authorities also emphasize that avoiding COVID-19 infection through thorough preventive measures such as mask-wearing is crucial.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, at the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 4th, stated, "Recently, there have been quite a few cases of young people who recovered from COVID-19 complaining of chronic fatigue, chest pain, and shortness of breath," urging, "Young people should always remain vigilant and make mask-wearing and other preventive measures a part of daily life."

Deputy Director Kwon Jun-wook of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) also said at a regular briefing on the 18th of last month, "Mask-wearing in daily life such as cafes and restaurants needs to be more refined," adding, "Please think of immediately putting on a mask right after eating or drinking coffee."

Experts warn that not only the elderly or those with underlying conditions but also young people can suffer serious aftereffects from COVID-19.

Professor Kim Woo-joo, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Guro Hospital, said, "After any illness, aftereffects naturally appear. Especially, elderly people or those with underlying diseases are more likely to suffer severely, but nowadays, aftereffects are also appearing in young people," analyzing, "In the case of COVID-19, patients are isolated for about two weeks before and after treatment, and since there is no specific treatment, symptoms such as headaches and depression appear."

He continued, "Aftereffects caused by structural changes such as lung fibrosis or brain thrombosis can be serious. Non-specific aftereffects can be treated through counseling or with the passage of time. Ultimately, these symptoms occur in combination," adding, "The best way to prevent this is not to get infected with COVID-19. However, recently, many cases are confirmed regardless of personal will. Everyone must wear masks properly and follow preventive measures."

Meanwhile, health authorities are conducting research on recovered patients regarding COVID-19 aftereffects.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the CDCH, said at a regular briefing held at the Osong Disease Control Headquarters in Chungbuk on the 4th, "Various aftereffects have been reported in Europe and the Americas," and "Currently, we are conducting a joint follow-up study with private experts on patients who have been released from isolation or discharged."

She added, "Stress disorders experienced after disasters are also being reported, so we will continue to investigate this," and "Since such cases are also reported among young people, we will closely monitor and investigate aftereffects and complications."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.