Sudden onset diabetes. Heart, lung, and kidney disorders. “Foggy brain,” and other neurological problems. Muscle weakness, fatigue, and skin rashes.
These are just some of the almost bewildering array of long-term complications that some people develop after getting COVID-19.
Michigan Medicine has added two new multi-disciplinary clinics to treat adults and children with such complications. These patients are often referred to as COVID-19 “long haulers.”
Dr. Rodica Pop-Busui heads the adult clinic. She says by last fall, “it became apparent that even people that had relatively minor forms of the disease could also develop these complications.”
She adds, “It's so important for people to get vaccinated because the vaccine not only prevents severe disease but also prevents all these post-COVID complications.”
The clinics will also seek to enroll patients in research studies to better understand the phenomenon and how to treat it.
Pop-Busui says other major medical systems around the country are beginning to set up similar multi-disciplinary clinics for COVID-19 long haulers.
Editor's note: Michigan Medicine is one of Michigan Radio's corporate sponsors.
