Although the long covid has decreased significantly, as well as his serious symptoms, the disease still exists and so the scientific community is looking for a cure, with the messages from the research being hopeful, as she mentions in an interview with FM Agency and Tania Madouvalou, the pathologist – infectious disease specialist, EKPA professor at the 3rd University Pathology Clinic of the “I Sotiria” hospital and scientific manager of the Post-Covid Clinic, Garifalia Poulakou.

“By identifying specific groups of symptoms (ss phenotypes) we have identified the mechanisms that cause them and in this way, clinical trials with investigational drugs have been designed. That is, there are groups of symptoms that are expressed in each patient. One of the usual groups is gastrointestinal along with neurocognitive symptoms (so called fog). It appears that these have a mechanism by which the virus from the gut communicates with the Central Nervous System. Another group of symptoms is fatigue along with findings from the heart, eg tachycardia. In her clinic, as Mrs. Poulakou says, a study is “running”, which addresses another group of symptoms related to the respiratory system (cough, fatigue during exercise and findings in the chest CT scan). These patients are “put” on a drug that doctors have used and approved for acute covid infection. According to the expert, at least a semester is required for the researchers to have a preliminary look at the results. “However, from the way the clinical study has been set up and is based on specific indications, we believe that we will have a therapeutic effect.” It is an international multicenter study that takes place under its umbrella Hellenic Institute for the Study of Sepsisand several clinics of university and non-hospitals from Greece participate, as well as centers abroad.

Long covid is decreasing and so are its serious symptoms

Arrivals for long covid-19 in our clinics they have decreased, but they have not gone to zero, says Ms. Poulakou at another point in her interview: “The impressive thing is that a small percentage of our old patients, who acquired long covid from the original variants of the coronavirus, are still suffering and in fact, in some the symptoms were re-triggered, after a subsequent illness, with other variants. Certainly after the advent of Omicron, we don’t see as many people having severe long covid symptoms as in the initial phases. Nevertheless, the symptoms we see in the patients who come now are fatigue, myalgias and inability to concentrate. The number of people complaining of respiratory symptoms with cough and chest pains has decreased significantly.”

With the same intensity and next month

Regarding the dynamic presence of the coronavirus, the professor reports that in the last 20 days there has been an increase in cases in the community, as almost every home has at least one patient with covid. “We don’t know if it’s the peak yet. My feeling is that about the same intensity will be maintained next month. Fortunately, in the majority of cases, the disease is mild. And in our hospital, our admissions have now increased. The covid beds, which in recent months had been reduced to a minimum, (there were only two clinics for covid beds) are now almost full and apparently not enough. So little by little, all the clinics are starting to treat covid cases in some of their wards, in order to cover the growing demand. There are also serious cases in the hospital and, of course, some intubations with hospitalization in the ICU.”

High transmissibility is associated with previous infections and history of hybrid immunity

Regarding the symptoms of strains FLiRT that are now circulating, its manager post covid of Sotiria’s clinic, points out that they do not have a serious illness, with the usual symptoms (sore throat, stuffy nose, a little fever) and which pass easily. “However, there is a minority of people, (mainly vulnerable and more those with cardiovascular comorbidities) who manifest severe disease, and in whom we see pneumonia, which we saw in the initial phase of the pandemic, with many infiltrates and a need for oxygen. Fortunately, for most people this need does not last for many days. Of course, now we have better healing weapons in our hands.” To the question of whether the transmissibility of the current strains is very high, as described, Mrs. Poulakou answers: “These strains have a little more than a high transmissibility. However, we see families, (in which measures are not observed during the incubation phase) and one or two get sick and not the whole family. Therefore, intrafamilial transmission is not 100% valid.” Something that, as the professor explains, has to do with previous illnesses and the history of hybrid immunity. That is, how many vaccinations each person has had and how recent is the last vaccination.”

The current vaccine covers the new variants

And the question that reasonably arises is whether the disease each time may resemble the previous one, or be different. Either heavier or lighter. “There is no rule. That is, someone who was seriously ill last time, does not mean that he will be seriously ill the next time. As a rule, when we have recently had covid, the next illness if it is close in time, is lighter, because we have a degree of antibodies that provide us with a small protection, which weakens within six months. The latest variants that have prevailed in the last two years with Omicron are milder and we do not expect to see serious illnesses in the otherwise healthy.” Worried about a really “bad” strain re-emerging? Or have vaccines averted this risk, the distinguished infectious disease specialist then asks. “In my opinion, this fear is waning. It would be surprising if a strain as bad as the original sprang up. And certainly vaccination covers existing variants. So, in the vulnerable groups that are still vaccinated, based on recommendations, it seems that there is a satisfactory protection”. However, there is also the scientific opinion that the current vaccine does not cover the current strains and in fact, some doctors are advising people not to get vaccinated now, but in the fall with the updated vaccines. The updated vaccine, I don’t know to what extent it will be very different from the previous one, comments Mrs. Poulakou and adds: “The WHO has announced that the current variants are covered to a very large extent by the existing vaccine. So, people who belong to vulnerable groups and have neglected their vaccination, since they will be in vacation conditions, traveling together, etc., it is better to be vaccinated even now, bearing in mind of course that it takes 15-20 days for antibodies to develop”.