The coronavirus is rapidly evolving, and experts around the world are discovering new information about the after effects of Covid-19, among which a major one is pulmonary fibrosis.
In recent times, Britain saw thousands of people recover from a serious Covid-19 attack but are now being advised to go to the hospital to see if their lungs have been damaged permanently.
Doctors in Britain told foreign media that a large portion of the lungs of those who have been severely infected with coronavirus may be damaged, which may lead to a condition called pulmonary fibrosis (PF).
Pulmonary fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease where the soft lung tissues become thick and stiff, so that the air sacs in the lungs cannot function properly. This makes it difficult to breathe and causes fatigue.
The risk of developing other types of lung infections increases in the future.
Cases in Bangladesh
Many who recovered from Covid-19 have said they are experiencing a variety of changes.
Physicians said it may be a pulmonary disease but it cannot be confirmed without some kind of research based evidence on it.
The reporter contacted 14 people who are suffering from persisting symptoms even after recovering from Covid-19.
Mehdi Hasan, who was infected with Covid-19 on April 27, has been suffering the symptoms for two weeks even after recovery. With respiratory ailments, cough and physical weakness, he tested for coronavirus again but the result was negative.
Mehedi said, the local health complex’s doctor prescribed him an Asthma inhaler. They think he developed asthma as an after-effect of coronavirus, despite never having any respiratory disease before Covid-19.
“I thought I was infected again even after the negative result came. Extreme weakness, irritable mood, coughing, and respiratory illness persisted after recovery. I don't understand why I'm not getting well even though I am free from Covid-19,” he said.
Mustafizur Rahman, assistant professor of Respiratory Medicine at National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital (NIDCH) said, as an after-effect of coronavirus people can get asthma, respiratory diseases, or lung-borne diseases.
He said: “Lately these types of patients are coming to us. We found a patient who had symptoms like cough, weakness, and respiratory problems after recovering from Covid-19. He was tested [for Covid-19] three times but every time the result was negative.”
Since Bangladesh has no research on the matter it cannot be identified whether these symptoms are caused by Covid-19 or not.
Usually patients who have recovered from pneumonia can be affected by many lung diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis.
Dr Abdur Rahim, a consultant of Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital, said after a recovering patient tested negative for Covid-19 he was shifted from the ICU (intensive care unit) to a general bed, but his body had deteriorated a lot.
As he was suffering from extreme respiratory illness, a CT scan was done immediately. A board of hospital doctors reviewing the test report noticed some changes in his lungs.
“We are still trying to understand what kind of change this actually is,” said Dr Rahim.
“Covid-19 is a new pandemic, not only for our country but all countries over the world. So, all the research related to it is still ongoing,” he added.
PF symptoms are shortness of breath, dry-hacking cough, fast-shallow breathing, gradual unintended weight loss, tiredness, aching joints and muscles, and clubbing (widening and rounding) of the tips of the fingers or toes.
Dr Rahim furthered: “There are a few recovered patients who have these types of symptoms, but what type of PF disease this is, that we could not identify yet.
“These patients may have had lung problems before Covid-19 or hereditary illnesses can also develop now. However, there is a chance that the lungs have been damaged due to coronavirus.”
He said: “So far we can say that Covid-19 can damage the lungs. This problem is more common in people who have had severe illness and are over 50 years of age.”
