Dr. Fauci Says These COVID Symptoms Are Trouble
Dr. Anthony Fauci recently said there is no "perfect solution" to COVID-19—which is understandable considering the danger of variants and Long COVID. "Long COVID can happen no matter what virus variant occurs," says Dr. Fauci. "There's no evidence that there's any difference between delta or beta or now omicron. We should always be aware that when people get symptomatic infection… anywhere from 10 to up to 30 plus percent of people will go on to have persistence of symptoms." Here are COVID symptoms Dr. Fauci has expressed concern about. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.
Scary Long COVID Symptoms To Be Aware Of
"We do know for absolutely certain that there is a post-COVID syndrome," Dr. Fauci says. "Anywhere from 25% to 35%—or more—have lingering symptoms well beyond what you would expect from any post viral syndrome like influenza and others. It's fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle aches, dysautonomia, sleep disturbances and what people refer to as brain fog."
COVID-19 and Type 2 Diabetes
There is growing evidence that COVID-19 is linked to diabetes, something doctors are still trying to understand. "There are a number of factors that seem to be associated in recent studies with long COVID, ranging from things like type two diabetes to viral load… as well as things like autoantibodies. We don't really understand very much, but we're learning literally on a week by week, month by month basis," Dr. Fauci said during a press briefing on February 16.
"Quiet" COVID
Dr. Fauci has expressed concern about people who might have long COVID, and not display any symptoms. "Now over the last year we know that you don't necessarily have to be hospitalized to get long COVID, that it ranges from people who are mildly to moderately symptomatic to individuals who are actually requiring hospitalization."
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Dr. Fauci has compared COVID-19 to chronic fatigue syndrome, another health condition that has long term symptoms. "Dr. Anthony Fauci has speculated that long COVID likely is the same as or very similar to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)," says Harvard Health. "ME/CFS can be triggered by other infectious illnesses — such as mononucleosis, Lyme disease, or severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), another coronavirus disease."
Omicron Symptoms Cannot Be Avoided
"Omicron, with its extraordinary, unprecedented degree of efficiency of transmissibility, will ultimately find just about everybody," says Dr. Fauci. "Those who have been vaccinated … and boosted would get exposed. Some, maybe a lot of them, will get infected but will very likely, with some exceptions, do reasonably well in the sense of not having hospitalization and death."
How to Stay Safe Out There
Follow the public health fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you live—get vaccinated or boosted ASAP; if you live in an area with low vaccination rates, wear an N95 face mask, don't travel, social distance, avoid large crowds, don't go indoors with people you're not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.
