UAE doctors have explained that some patients who recovered from COVID-19 can experience lingering symptoms of the disease. However, unlike those individuals with active COVID-19 infection, these symptoms are not contagious. This condition named long COVID include symptoms like stress, chest pain, fatigue, body ache, cough, sore throat and breathing difficulties, among other issues.

According to studies, these aftereffects of COVID-19 are likely to stay in the body for many months. Professor Adrian Kennedy, chief wellness officer for Arabian Wellness and Lifestyle Management at RAK Hospital, highlighted that a number of people who were hospitalised due to COVID-19 can experience symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath even months after being discharged from the healthcare facility.

Dubai authorities have also set up special clinics in the emirate for patients experiencing long COVID-19 symptoms. According to the Dubai Health Authority, the newly-launched post-Covid-19 clinics would be open for patients on Tuesdays at Al Barsha Health Centre and Thursdays at Nad Al Hammar. The DHA has clarified that the service is currently not for pregnant women and children under the age of six years.

As per healthcare specialists, long-term debilitating effects are seen in approximately 30 percent of patients who were infected with COVID-19. Noting that it is a new disease, scientists have learned that the symptoms can continue for three weeks or even for three to nine months. It can also pose health issued for people experiencing it.

"It not only affects patients who were severely sick or hospitalised but, in many instances, it impacted the ones who remained asymptomatic during the infection,” Kennedy explained.

Some of the most lingering symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, cough or abdominal pain, he added.

Dr Hammad Khan, ER physician and head of emergency at Prime Hospital, further noted that long-haulers are given different types of treatment.

“Among the most common ones are breathing therapy, stamina training, attention and memory training, and improvement of general fitness,” Dr Khan added.

Dr Harkirat S Wilkhoo, lifestyle medicine specialist at RAK Hospital, added that long COVID-19 symptoms can also be treated by supportive measures like lifestyle changes (modifications in nutrition, physiotherapy, exercise, stress management, dependency management) as well as conventional medicines and alternative medicine (homeopathy, ayurveda, naturopathy).