While some are hopeful the Covid pandemic will end soon, the long term effects of the virus may effect some survivors for years down the line and have debilitating effects on the lives of young and previously healthy people.
'Long Covid' is a somewhat common, mysterious and potentially devastating condition where a person suffers symptoms of the virus for weeks to months after infection.
It can manifest in different ways, from altered or lost smell, to crippling fatigue, and even to severe psychiatric symptoms in some rare cases. While experts believe it is tied to an immune response to the virus, the exact reason has not been confirmed.
The condition often appears in people who suffer from more mild infections as well - usually younger, healthier, people without many pre-existing medical issues.
With the Omicron variant infecting Americans at a rapid pace - up to 800,000 infections recorded daily in the U.S. at its peak and recorded infections likely only accounting for a third of actual cases - millions of Americans may suffer long health defects as a result of the winter Omicron surge.
The Omicron COVID-19 wave peaked at around 800,000 recorded infections per day, though official numbers may only be a third of the real total of Americans that were infected. Experts predict that anywhere from 10% to 30% of Covid patients will develop long Covid, meaning millions will likely suffer from it long term. Pictured: A woman in Baltimore, Maryland, tests for Covid on January 13
Dr Leonard Jason is a psychology professor at Depaul University that works with long Covid patients. He told DailyMail.com that the potential of the Omicron wave causing the condition in so many survivors could have severe negative consequences long term.
‘That is gonna create all kinds of economic consequences, [and to] our health care system,' Jason said.
Dr Leonard Jason (pictured), psychology professor at Depaul University that works with long Covid patients, warns the condition can disrupt the lives of millions, though he is optimistic effective treatments for the condition will be developed over time
He told DailyMail.com that anywhere from ten to 30 percent of Covid survivors continue to suffer at least some symptoms long-term.
For even the more mild versions, where a person loses their sense of smell or has an
