COVID-19 rebound: 1/3 of people report symptoms coming back

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-10-28 10:33

International

Around one-third of people whose COVID-19 symptoms had cleared up report at least some of their symptoms coming back, according to US research. The study tracked symptoms over 29 days in around 150 people who had COVID-19 and were only receiving a placebo as part of a clinical trial of COVID-19 treatments. They found that people's symptoms are inherently subjective, and the most common recurring symptoms were cough, fatigue, and headache. The authors say this rebounding of symptoms in untreated COVID-19 may also explain some of the rebound of symptoms doctors are seeing after treatment for COVID-19 with drugs such as Paxlovid.

Media release

From: JAMA

Recurrence of Symptoms Following a 2-Day Symptom Free Period in Patients With COVID-19

JAMA Network Open
Research Letter

About JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is the new online-only open access general medical journal from the JAMA Network. On weekdays, the journal publishes peer-reviewed clinical research and commentary in more than 40 medical and health subject areas. Every article is free online from the day of publication.

About The Study: Using daily symptoms data from a prospective trial involving 158 participants, researchers found the natural history of untreated COVID-19 was variable and undulating. Over one-third of participants who experienced symptom resolution for at least two consecutive days within the first 4 to 5 weeks of COVID-19 symptoms reported recurrent symptoms.

Authors: Davey M. Smith, M.D., M.A.S., of the University of California San Diego in La Jolla, is the corresponding author.

(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.38867)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

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Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University of California San Diego, USA

Funder: This work was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under grant Nos. UM1 AI068634, UM1 AI068636, and UM1 AI106701.

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