“Long Kovid” for 20 to 30% of patients | News | Gallery

The trajectory to keep

Now, the Quebec health system needs to work to create a care trajectory for patients with COVID-19.

“The UK has established an interesting model based on the multidisciplinary trajectory. It is good that we are inspired by what they do. Because long COVID is definitely a growing problem. “

At the onset of the epidemic, all research efforts focused on the treatment of acute COVID, which led patients to intensive care on ventilators.

Today, the pendulum is moving and efforts on chronic COVID treatment are beginning.

“We need to develop knowledge to understand why some people develop severe COVID and why others develop it,” said D.^r Piche.

“The first research results will start coming out in six to 12 months. It is encouraging for patients to know that there is research, ”he said.

At present, many patients find it possible to go to the post-covid ambulatory clinic in CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS, but find themselves without an answer.

“When I meet patients, one of the first questions they ask me is: How long will it last? I do not have the answer to this question, because it varies from person to person, symptom to symptom and even severity over time. For example, some days we see people who feel good, they think it’s taken a good edge, and then it starts all over again, ”say microbiologists and infectious disease experts.

Specific reaction to COVID

Before COVID-19, can people who are very sick from another virus like influenza also have persistent symptoms?

“You can sometimes see with a virus like influenza or mononucleosis, but with COVID, 20 to 30% of people show persistent symptoms. This is really unique to COVID. Certainly, COVID triggers what other viruses do not. ”

Meanwhile, d^r Piche Sherbrook is working on the development of a post-Kovid ambulatory clinic.

“I am still working to develop multidisciplinary services. I hope the Ministry of Health will provide us with financial resources, ”he said, adding that a good portion of patient care is provided by his guards at the hospital.

“At present, it is not easy to treat these patients because a lot of research needs to be done. Most of the time, the test results return to normal. For example, we do not see anything in the pictures that illustrate the shortness of breath. It is also because we do not know what to see one day. We need to ask ourselves whether we should do the usual … not sure, but we’re not there yet, because we still have to try to understand what mechanisms are involved in the long COVID context ”^r Piche.