Characterization of post COVID syndrome in personnel of a health center. Honduras, 2022

Abstract

Background. A considerable frequency of persistence of symptoms has been observed in patients who have overcome an episode of acute COVID-19. The post COVID syndrome is presented by those patients who maintain signs or symptoms 3 months after the onset of the acute episode. Objective. To characterize the post COVID syndrome in the health personnel of Triaje Mayangle, Tegucigalpa, April 2022. Methods. Quantitative, descriptive-cross-sectional study. The universe of the study was the personnel (7) working in the Triage center. The information was collected through an online questionnaire, processed in Microsoft Excel version 2017. Results. 71% (51) were women and 29% (21) men. 66 people claimed to have suffered COVID-19 infection confirmed by laboratory tests, (RT-PCR, antigen detection and/ or antibody detection); 6 denied having had the disease and were excluded from the study. A total of 68% (45/66) reported reinfection. The most frequent persistent clinical manifestations 4 weeks after the onset of the disease were headache 60.6%, fatigue 43.9%, cough 33.3%, loss of smell 33.3%, hair loss 25.8%, insomnia 25.8%. Manifestations that persisted 12 weeks later were headache 33.3%, fatigue 28.8%, hair loss 18.2%, cough 15.2%, loss of smell 13.6%, and chest pain 13.6%. Discussion. 75.8% of participants with COVID-19 had post-COVID symptoms at 12 weeks after diagnosis. The most recent estimate of people living with the condition post COVID-19 worldwide has exceeded 65 million and, with no clear diagnostic or treatment options.