A TOP Bahraini medic has stressed the need for ‘tailored’ medications to help patients suffering from long-Covid complications.
National Taskforce to Combat Covid-19 monitoring committee head Lieutenant Colonel Dr Manaf Al Qahtani had earlier agreed with citizens and residents who had called for specific clinics in Bahrain to address Post Acute Covid Syndrome (PACS).
According to studies, between 10 per cent to 20pc of people infected with Covid-19 become long-haulers who suffer from PACS.
“Diseases including viral infections may affect several parts of the human body,” Lt Col Dr Al Qahtani, a BDF Hospital microbiologist, said on Twitter.
“It is necessary to conduct a medical assessment and subsequently a comprehensive health rehabilitation by a specialised team to evaluate the complications of the disease.”
Bahrain, as of today, lacks fully-fledged Post Covid Care Centres which are becoming increasingly popular in many countries. Such clinics bring together multi-disciplinary teams from a wide range of specialties to address issues that may arise following Covid-19 recovery.
“The best way, in my opinion, to understand, diagnose, treat and help rehabilitate these cases of post Covid-19 syndrome is to have integrated clinics,” said Lt Col Dr Al Qahtani.
“These should include a specialist in nutrition, immunology specialist, physiotherapy, psychology and internal chest diseases experts, who can study and diagnose cases to provide the appropriate treatment for each patient or offer tailored personal medicine.”
Long haulers, according to studies, may experience a range of symptoms including brain fog, breathlessness on exertion, fatigue, sleep disturbances, memory impairment, depression, palpitations and body weight issues. These symptoms may persist for more than two weeks and in most cases for several months.
The GDN reported last month that senior medics in the country have also backed calls for such clinics, while a private hospital in the kingdom said it was offering post Covid care to patients.
Kims Health Group chief executive Dr Sheriff Sahadulla had told the GDN that the Royal Bahrain Hospital (RBH) has been assisting patients with a comprehensive multidisciplinary post-covid care.
World Health Organisation’s Eastern Mediterranean Region Infection Hazards Prevention Manager Dr Abdinasir Abubakar also called on countries to set up long Covid clinics as part of a national strategy to fight the pandemic.
“Everyday we are learning new things about Covid-19 and long Covid diseases,” Dr Abubakar told the GDN in a media briefing.
“We are trying to see how we can help patients who suffer from post-Covid complications. And day after day, we are seeing evidence of new treatments to address some of those challenges.
“Clinicians and doctors have been trying to learn about these conditions. I’m sure most of the clinics and hospitals will be able to address these in the long run and yes, countries could integrate such clinics into their strategic planning (to combat Covid-19).”
Emerging research suggests that a small section of the population who now live with long Covid may have showed no Covid-19 symptoms at all when they were initially infected, or their symptoms were mild or unusual.
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