Indian doctors face challenges in diagnosing long covid
New Delhi: Doctors in India are grappling with the complexities of diagnosing and treating long Covid due to a lack of comprehensive guidelines and limited research on the condition. Although the World Health Organization has declared the end of Covid-19 as a global health emergency, there remains a crucial need to assess the long-term impact of the virus.
Long Covid encompasses a range of persistent symptoms that can affect various parts of the body, lingering well beyond the initial infection. Common manifestations include cough, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, brain fog, and difficulties in concentration.
Recent studies shed light on the prevalence of long Covid globally. A Harvard Medical School study published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases found that:
- 31% of moderately to severely infected individuals in North America
- 44% in Europe
- 51% in Asia
experience long Covid. In India, a study from Maulana Azad Medical College revealed that 45% of recovered Covid patients reported ongoing symptoms, with persistent fatigue and dry cough being the most frequently noted issues.
Doctors are increasingly seeing patients presenting symptoms that were absent before their Covid infections, such as asthma-like conditions and neurological complications. However, there is currently no specific test or standardised guidelines for diagnosing long Covid. Dr. Neetu Jain, a senior consultant at Pushpawati Singhania Hospital, stated, "We really do not have any test to diagnose long Covid... We diagnose based on clinical symptoms and quality of life."
In response to the urgent need for better understanding and management of long Covid, a research team from Shiv Nadar University has developed a fluorescent probe designed to detect inflammation in brain cells related to Covid infection. This innovative tool measures nitric oxide levels in microglia cells.
Experts call for increased research efforts focused on sleep disorders, the biological mechanisms behind long Covid, and the development of targeted interventions. Dr. Rajesh Sagar, a Professor of Psychiatry at AIIMS, noted, "Looking at the current state of long Covid studies in India, it is too premature to say that we understand the condition well enough." The Indian medical community is eager for more dedicated research to tackle the growing awareness of neurological complications associated with long Covid.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
