KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry today cautioned Malaysians on the Long Covid or Post-Covid-19 Syndrome, advising that precautions should be taken after a person recovers from the coronavirus to lower the risk of serious health problems.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry's clinical data showed that a majority of Covid-19 patients in Malaysia were able to fully recover from the infection.
However, he said a handful of them were affected by the Post-Covid Syndrome.
He said according to a clinical study conducted by the ministry involving 1,004 patients from categories 4 and 5 who received follow-up treatment on the infection, he said 66 per cent of the patients suffered from the Long Covid syndrome.
He said among the five symptoms often experienced by former Covid-19 patients were fatigue, difficulty breathing when doing activities (exertional dyspnea), difficulty sleeping at night (insomnia), cough and anxiety.
"On Dec 18, 2020, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), United Kingdom issued a guideline on Long Covid.
"This syndrome is a condition in which a former Covid-19 patient still shows signs and symptoms for a period of up to 12 weeks or more and those symptoms cannot be explained by any alternative diagnosis.
"This condition results from a complication of Covid-19 infection on the function of various organs in an individual's body," he said in a statement today.
Dr Noor Hisham said to date, the treatment offered to Long Covid patients is based on the symptoms exhibited by the patient (symptomatic relief) and the body functions involved.
"Referrals to relevant areas of expertise will be made to ensure patients receive optimal clinical treatment.
"Clinical studies will continue to be conducted to understand and identify the effects of Post-Covid Syndrome and it will be communicated to the public from time to time."
Therefore, he said Covid-19 patients discharged from the hospital will be given a follow-up treatment appointment and would be reminded to attend according to the scheduled date.
He also advised former Covid-19 patients who still have symptoms to seek medical advice and treatment at a nearby clinic or hospital.
"This is important to maintain the former patient's health status at its best and reduce any long-term complications.
"It is therefore very important to keep ourselves and our family members safe from the dangers of Covid-19 and register for the vaccine to reduce the risk of contracting the serious disease.
"This is because the effects can be prolonged and reduce a person's quality of life as well as productivity.
"We should also note that young people are the primary group of workers in various sectors in our country. Healthy young people are the key to the nation's productivity," he added.