A recent study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases has made a worrying finding: even mild COVID-19 infections can increase the risk of other infections in the following year. What does this mean for our health and how can we protect ourselves?
Researchers from the VA St. Louis Health Care System and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis analyzed data from patients who had recovered from COVID-19. They found that individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 had an increased risk of being diagnosed with other (non-SARS-CoV-2) infections for at least a year after the initial infection—even if it was mild. The study found that non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients had a 17-fold increased risk of bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, a 46-fold increased risk of respiratory infections, and a 41-fold increased risk of hospitalization for infectious diseases compared to those who were not infected.
Even more concerning, patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were at higher risk of developing other infections in the following year than those hospitalized with seasonal influenza, suggesting that COVID-19 may cause long-lasting changes in the immune system, leading to increased susceptibility to other pathogens.
Another study published in the journal Allergy, has shown that even mild COVID-19 infections can cause significant long-term changes in the immune system, which may contribute to the development of long-lasting symptoms known as long-term COVIDThe researchers found that COVID-19 survivors had significantly increased levels of certain cytokines and growth factors, indicating long-term immune activation.
In addition, there is evidence that SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect secondary lymphatic organs such as the spleen and lymph nodes, leading to damage to these tissues and consequently to a weakened immune response.
In light of these findings, it is important to continue to take preventive measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection. Vaccination remains key to protecting against severe forms of the disease and long-term consequences. In addition, wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, and good hand hygiene remain effective ways to prevent the spread of the virus.
