Chandigarh: Ailments plague Covid survivors, fatigue tops list

CHANDIGARH: Apart from mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, the city is grappling with many other post-Covid complications.

Fatigue is most common. Others are low grade fever, dry cough, dizziness, tachycardia (heart beat increases), upset stomach, tastelessness and blood pressure fluctuation. “Most of them are unable to get back to their routine. We advise them to take short breaks in between. Even if one is feeling all right, take 15 to 30 minutes’ break intermittently,” said Prof Pankaj Malhotra, internal medicine department, PGI.

Doctors recommend rest and proper diet instead of specific medicines for the common complications as they usually end within a month and a half or so. Those who suffered moderate to severe Covid have complained of lung problems. “Their investigations are done by doctors and are advised breathing exercises,” said Prof Malhotra.

There were also some rare presentations of a new onset of hypertension or diabetes. Dr Zafar Ahmed, a senior consultant in department of critical care, pulmonology and chest and sleep medicine in a private hospital, said, “Some patients have come back with neuropathies and headache. Those with fungal infections are coming with facial swelling and eye symptoms.”

On comparing the second wave to the first, Dr Zafar said, “There is a huge jump in these cases. We hardly saw post-Covid cases after the first wave. All these cases are managed on a case-to-case basis depending upon their symptoms. They may require vitamin D calcium supplementation, counselling in majority cases, antibiotics or bronchodilators.”