Long COVID: understanding the neurological effects

摘要

The concept of so-called long COVID has gained prominence in recent months, with some patients reporting persistent neurological manifestations, from milder symptoms such as headaches, hyposmia, hypo-geusia, and fatigue to more severe conditions including sleep disorders, pain, cognitive impairment, and (in very rare cases) Guillain-Barré syndrome. WHO updated their living guidance for the clinical management of COVID-19 in January, 2021, which now incorporates a new practice statement on caring for patients with persistent, new, or changing symptoms after suspected or confirmed COVID-19. The guidance notes that clinical characterisation of long COVID is inadequate and, therefore, further research on long-term sequelae is warranted.