Could inflammation be a target for long covid treatments?

Yes, experts suggest that chronic inflammation identified in long covid patients could be a therapeutic target for new treatments.

What are common symptoms of long covid?

Long covid symptoms are diverse, including brain fog, fatigue, dizziness, gastrointestinal issues, and heart palpitations, lasting weeks to years.

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Long Covid Tied to Chronic Inflammation

Q: What did the new Nature Immunology study find about long covid?

The study found that people with long covid had activated immune defenses and heightened inflammatory responses for over six months after infection.

15 Dec

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Summary

New research links chronic inflammation to persistent long covid symptoms.
Study found activated immune defenses and heightened inflammation over six months.
Findings could pave way for new anti-inflammatory treatments for long covid.

Recent scientific investigations indicate that persistent inflammation might be the underlying cause of long-lasting symptoms associated with COVID-19. Research published in Nature Immunology reveals that individuals experiencing long covid maintained activated immune defenses and heightened inflammatory responses for more than six months after their initial infection.

This discovery is significant for the estimated over 400 million individuals globally affected by long covid, a condition for which no specific drugs are currently approved. The study's lead author suggests these findings point towards potential therapeutic targets related to inflammation, which warrant further clinical exploration.

While the study involved a limited number of participants, the observed patterns suggest that targeting inflammation could be a key strategy in developing effective treatments for long covid, offering hope for millions seeking relief from a wide range of debilitating symptoms.