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Prolonged Illness Among Outpatients with COVID-19
A CDC report published in July finds that COVID-19 can result in prolonged illness even among individuals with milder, outpatient illness. Researchers interviewed a random sample of symptomatic adults who had a positive test result for SARS-CoV-2. The interviews were conducted by telephone 14–21 days after testing and collected information such as demographic characteristics, baseline chronic medical conditions, and symptoms present at the time of testing. Information from the report is presented below.
From “Symptom Duration and Risk Factors for Delayed Return to Usual Health Among Outpatients with COVID-19 in a Multistate Health Care Systems Network — United States, March–June 2020”:
“These findings have important implications for understanding the full effects of COVID-19, even in persons with milder outpatient illness. Notably, convalescence can be prolonged even in young adults without chronic medical conditions, potentially leading to prolonged absence from work, studies, or other activities.”
SOURCE
CDC: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, “Symptom Duration and Risk Factors for Delayed Return to Usual Health Among Outpatients with COVID-19 in a Multistate Health Care Systems Network — United States, March–June 2020” (July 2020).
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In August, The Knoxville News Sentinel reported that a student intern and a researcher at Oak Ridge Associated Universities had devised an experiment to replicate the McCluskey incident in order to study the effects of radiation on the body. By irradiating vials of their own blood for different lengths of time, the researchers hope to generate data that clinicians and first responders can refer to following an exposure incident.
Read more from the News Sentinel.
