A study published by researchers reveals the similar symptoms of both the conditions may occur due to a biological response that creates redox imbalance.
The end of COVID-19 pandemic may be declared, yet the virus has left a long shadow. There are some long term symptoms of the virus observed in patient post COVID-19 such as fatigue, mental fuzziness, and reduced stamina. A team of researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that there are significant similarities in long COVID-19 and chronic fatigue syndrome. According to the team, studying deep into the similarities of both conditions can help uncover similar post virus sicknesses as long-Covid in future. The post COVID-19 condition is now named as PASC (Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS CoV-2 infection).
People who suffered from severe COVID-19 infection were reported experiencing long term symptoms of fatigue post COVID-19. The long-Covid symptoms are very much similar to symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), which is commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). According to the scientists, both the conditions of COVID-19 and ME/CFS show signs of redox imbalance in which, there is an imbalance between oxygen and antioxidant defense mechanism inside the cells. Generation of inflammatory molecules is provoked when there is an unnecessary amount of oxygen species, which tends to damage cellular components. It accounts for many of the symptoms seen in COVID-19 and CFS/ME. The team stated that the similarities between both the illness cannot be proved only on one particular evidence but it is a significant finding to investigate further treatments in future for such conditions.
The team noted there are many therapies that focus on treating redox imbalance in patients with COVID-19 and ME/CFS but not many have proven to be very effective. The diverseness of the redox imbalance could be creating challenges for treatments. Overall, post viral illnesses is very much underexplored medical field that can create new ways for treatment in future with further detailed investigations and research.