Severe COVID-19 may wake up dormant viruses and lead to lasting physical disability, study finds
Nearly half of hospitalized COVID-19 patients had a dormant virus flare back to life, and one family of viruses found in the majority of people was tied to lasting symptoms from long COVID.
A new study reveals that severe COVID-19 cases may awaken dormant viruses in the body, potentially causing lasting physical disabilities. Researchers tracked 1,154 adults who had been hospitalized with COVID-19, following them for a year. During this period, they collected blood samples, nasal swabs, and lung fluid samples at various time points.
The study found that many dormant viruses, including Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and anelloviruses, reactivated during and after the acute infection. Anelloviruses, in particular, were linked to persistent physical disability from long COVID. Although the study suggests that severe COVID-19 may reawaken these viruses, further research is needed to confirm the causal relationship.
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