As coronavirus cases continue to mount, a lot of recovering patients are said to have experienced bouts of medical issues surrounding exhaustion, overwhelming fatigue, palpitations, muscle aches, pins and needles and many more symptoms. A handful of viruses have been associated with long-term, debilitating symptoms in a subset of those who become infected, and now early signs hint that COVID-19 may do the same.
The symptoms in many of these patients are highly suggestive of myalgic encephalomyelitis, the disabling illness also commonly called chronic fatigue syndrome or ME/CFS, a debilitating and poorly understood condition. Chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS is characterized by chronic fatigue or tiredness that does not seem to go away and can last for months or even years. People with chronic fatigue syndrome experience fatigue that seems to get worse after even mild exertion and tend to exhibit fluctuating flu-like symptoms without getting any better. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says some diagnosed with coronavirus are showing symptoms that resemble those seen in ME/CFS patients.
These observations are important as they not only mark a warning about the pandemic’s potentially devastating long-term health effects. But by noting the possible connection between “post-COVID syndrome” and ME/CFS, the long-neglected field of post-viral illness becomes highlighted — a poorly understood phenomenon that likely holds important clues about the causes of, and treatments for, both conditions.
When it comes to treating chronic fatigue, the emphasis previously has been on effective treatment of the underlying disease, in the belief that this would diminish the fatigue. However, because COVID-19 is so new, researchers don’t yet know how to manage post-COVID fatigue. Although studies have documented a range of neurologic, immunologic, metabolic, and other dysfunctions, no specific causes have been identified for ME/CFS. For decades, ME/CFS has been stigmatized to the point of being ignored by many physicians and researchers, in large part due to its mysterious etiology. Some people with post-COVID syndrome are also reporting they are being told that their troubling symptoms likely result from anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress.
With the possibility of rising cases, those in the ME/CFS community are saying now is the time for more study of the early stages of COVID-19. If we can learn about the factors that separate those who regain their health from those who remain sick, better care can be offered to patients if they develop ME/CFS. Scientists suggest a need to collect data from samples from COVID-19 patients, including those who are not symptomatic, to assess functioning during the recovery phase post-coronavirus.
After decades of neglect by federal research agencies, the National Institutes of Health has increased funding for biomedical research into ME/CFS, although the amount is still far from adequate. This and more research efforts will also help shed light on the pathophysiological processes involved in post-COVID syndrome.
