New study reveals hidden infections could fuel long Covid
How hidden infections could make long Covid even worse
- Long Covid affects approximately 400 million people globally, with its underlying cause remaining unknown despite a wide range of debilitating symptoms.
- A group of leading microbiologists suggests that persistent Long Covid symptoms may stem from additional infections acquired before or during SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- A review in eLife highlights Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Tuberculosis (TB) as potential co-infections, which could be reactivated by Covid-19's impact on the immune system.
- Studies indicate that a significant number of Long Covid patients show signs of recent EBV activity, linking its reactivation to common symptoms like fatigue and cognitive problems.
- While researchers propose repurposing antibiotics and antivirals to target these underlying infections, they emphasise that this remains a speculative hypothesis, and a causal link has not yet been established.