The COVID Advisor

The long-term chronic effects of COVID-19 cannot be ignored. Studies have shown that six months after being diagnosed with COVID-19, the risk of developing an autoimmune disease is three times that of an uninfected person. Virology experts say following six health guidelines can help reduce the incidence of long COVID. A research team analyzed data from TriNetX, a global electronic medical records database, which included more than 3.81 million participants (880,000 confirmed and more than 2.9 million undiagnosed) who underwent PCR screening from 2020 to 2021. After tracking them for 180 days, the risk of autoimmune diseases in those diagnosed was three times that of those not infected. This image shows a 3D print of a spike protein of SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19—in front of a 3D print of a SARS-CoV-2 virus particle. (Courtesy of NIAID/RML) Compared with the undiagnosed control group, the probability of suffering from various immune system diseases in confirmed patients w...

There was an unexpected surge in the diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes among children and teenagers worldwide amidst the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study. The  systematic review , published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), analyzed 42 studies on diabetes incidence, including 17 studies involving nearly 38,000 people under the age of 19. The review revealed a 14 percent surge in Type 1 diabetes cases in 2020, followed by a 27 percent increase in 2021, compared to before the pandemic. This image shows a 3D print of a spike protein of SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19—in front of a 3D print of a SARS-CoV-2 virus particle. (Courtesy of NIAID/RML) Furthermore, the research highlighted a rise in Type 2 diabetes incidence and diabetic ketoacidosis, a severe complication of diabetes more common in Type 1 patients, after the start of the pandemic. What Is the Link Between COVID and Type 1 Diabetes? The exact connection between COV...

The COVID-19 pandemic casts a concerning shadow in the form of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). This perplexing health issue, marked by a significant surge in heart rate when standing, is gaining increasing attention in the medical community because of a rise in cases. This image shows a 3D print of a spike protein of SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19—in front of a 3D print of a SARS-CoV-2 virus particle. (Courtesy of NIAID/RML) 2 Journeys, 1 Diagnosis Phoebe Eaton and Aubrey George, two active women in their mid-20s, found their lives abruptly disrupted by the puzzling symptoms of POTS. Ms. Eaton, a 25-year-old teacher in training, noted the onset of symptoms after her initial COVID-19 vaccine. She reported recurring urinary tract infections, persistent fatigue, migraines, weight loss, and erratic blood sugar levels. Her health deteriorated after her final vaccine dose. “I started passing out, which developed into seizures, forcing me to abandon my teacher tra...

Australia’s therapeutic goods administration (TGA) has announced that reports on myocarditis and pericarditis cases following mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna are not necessary anymore and will no longer be provided. Australia’s national drug authority says this is because the rates have stabilised. However, the TGA will “continue to monitor and review these adverse effects and will communicate any updated safety advice if needed,” they said in a statement. Both myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) and pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane around the heart) are considered side effects of mRNA vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s independent committee of vaccine experts has also found a link between heart inflammation and the mRNA vaccines after over 1,200 cases of heart inflammation were reported in people post-vaccination. In Australia, the total number of ...