Celiac.com 05/10/2021 - A top physician in Turkey recently warned that rates of autoimmune diseases like Type 1 diabetes and celiac will likely rise in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Autoimmune diseases, including thyroid issues, happen when the body attacks its own tissues. The coronavirus causes the body's immune system to produce “attacking” antibodies. Because "[v]iruses serve as a mechanism that pull the trigger for autoimmune diseases,” an increase in rates of autoimmune diseases was unavoidable after a year of pandemic," says Professor Tufan Tükek, head of the Faculty of Medicine at Istanbul University.
Lingering COVID-19 symptoms Impede Autoimmune Disease Management
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Ongoing coronavirus symptoms have been a problem for numerous recovered patients, and can impair the management of autoimmune diseases. For example, in diabetes patients, studies show that the symptoms influence blood sugar levels, and impede its management by causing fatigue and memory issues.
In March 2020, Istanbul University became one of the first institutions in the country to establish an observation center for recovered coronavirus patients. Since then, they have monitored nearly 4,000 patients.
Professor Tükek says that, in the early days of the pandemic, diarrhea was the main "long COVID-19" symptom, and then, after a second COVID-19 wave last summer, their team began seeing more memory issues and hair loss. Lately, Tükek said, they are seeing more cases of blood clots.
COVID-19 Symptoms Can Linger for Months
Dr. Huzeyfe Arıcı, a physician working at the observation center, said that COVID-19 symptoms can linger for up to eight weeks, in many cases. “We have patients suffering from back pain that long, something that cannot be cured by painkillers. We also see an increasing number of cases with memory lapses,” he stressed.
With COVID-19 survivors numbering in the millions, it is an open question as to how many will be affected by lingering symptoms, for how long, and what can be done to help them.
The idea that coronavirus could increase rates of diabetes, celiac or other autoimmune conditions is bit alarming. Quantifying and describing the problems and then creating a way to address them is crucial. Look for more information as other observation centers share their observations on COVID-19 survivors.
Read more in Dailysabah.com
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