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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Centre taking steps to ban hoax bomb perpetrators from flying, says Aviation Minister Naidu
Visakhapatnam(PTI): Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Sunday said the Centre is mulling to take steps to ban perpetrators who resort to hoax bomb threats from flying.
Speaking to mediapersons here after formally inaugurating two flights Visakhapatnam-Vijayawada, the minister also said besides taking support from international agencies, law enforcement wings and the Intelligence Bureau to prevent these fake threats, the union government is also mulling to amend two Civil Aviation Laws.
"We are also taking the support of international agencies, law enforcement agencies, the Intelligence Bureau to prevent these. We are planning to bring changes to two civil aviation laws. Those who resort to these kinds of activities will be punished severely and imposed a penalty. We are also taking steps to ban such persons from flying. We will announce them in the coming days," he said.
As of Saturday, in 13 days, more than 300 flights operated by the Indian carriers have received hoax bomb threats. Most of the threats were issued through social media.
Naidu further said an investigation into these fake threats is going on seriously and also the cooperation of social media platform 'X' is being sought.
