MOSCOW, October 10, Salma Sultanova. British scientists have found that long-term health consequences are possible not only after COVID-19, but also after other acute respiratory infections. The symptoms of “long colds” are practically no different from those that occur in those who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2.
Post-cold syndrome
People started talking about post-Covid syndrome when a lot of data accumulated about long-term illness after an infection: increased fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive impairment, incessant cough, depression. All this can go on for months. According to estimates WHO, such patients are up to 20 percent. Even vaccination does not provide a guarantee against “long COVID.”
Recently, specialists from Queen Mary University of London published an article stating that common colds, flu, and bronchitis also give similar complications .
Scientists based the results of the COVIDENCE UK study, performed with the participation of volunteers during the coronavirus pandemic. 
We looked at three groups of patients: those who had been ill with Covid, another acute respiratory infection (pneumonia, influenza, bronchitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, ear infection, cold), or were not ill with anything. A total of 10,171 questionnaires were analyzed. Compared with 16 symptoms of post-Covid syndrome: cough, insomnia, memory problems, distraction, muscle or joint pain, lack of smell and taste, diarrhea, abdominal pain, voice change, hair loss, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, sweating, shortness of breath, depression and fatigue.
The following symptoms were observed: fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, absent-mindedness, cough, problems with memory, stomach and sleep. At the same time, those who had recovered from COVID-19 more often complained of dizziness and lack of taste and smell, but otherwise there was no significant difference, with the exception of muscle or joint pain, problems with smell and taste, and hair loss.
«It turns out that not only COVID-19 affects health in the long term. It is also difficult to recover from other respiratory infections,” Julia said in an interview with CNN Vivaldi, lead author of the article, statistician and epidemiologist at Queen Mary University of London, who took part in COVIDENCE UK.
According to her colleague, COVIDENCE UK principal investigator and Queen Mary University of London professor Adrian Martino, studying the long-term effects of COVID-19 and other acute respiratory infections will help determine the most appropriate treatment.
Martino adds that patients with «long colds» of approximately the same as with post-Covid syndrome: about 20 percent.
And here the main factor is the severity of the disease. However, additional research is required for final conclusions.
What experts say
According to Peter Openshaw, a professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London, cited by the Science media center, those who have had an acute respiratory infection should not expect an immediate return to normal life: “Colleagues have demonstrated that recovery can be slow.” 
Professor of psychiatry at the University of Oxford, Paul Harrison, notes: “With coronavirus, there were many more complaints about complications, especially memory problems. “Brain fog” seems to be a special feature of SARS-CoV-2.”
< br />“We usually face long-term consequences in the form of respiratory complications,” says Olga Ulankina, a doctor-expert at the Hemotest laboratory. “A dry cough that does not go away for more than a month, shortness of breath, sinusitis. Symptoms of chronic ailments, such as asthma, can also intensify. Increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as myocarditis — inflammation of the heart muscle, which can lead to heart failure and even death. For some, after a cold or flu, the central nervous system is disrupted: headaches, insomnia, depression. There are also more serious complications: encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), Guillain-Barré syndrome (damage to nerve cells causing muscle weakness). Often after an acute respiratory viral infection, they complain of mild diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, flatulence, nausea.»
September 23, 12:04
This is the result of either the direct effect of the virus on the cells or the use of drugs. Therefore, sometimes you have to treat complications, and this is not a quick process. To avoid a severe course of ARVI, you should get preventive vaccinations annually, and at the first symptoms of infection, contact a specialist and not resort to self-medication, the doctor emphasizes.
«People with a weakened immune system, chronic diseases, as well as the elderly and children are at risk. Insufficient rest during illness also contributes to complications. For some, this can develop into bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, otitis media and even pneumonia. Recently, people have been complaining for abdominal pain, unstable stools. This continues for weeks or even months,» notes Maria Menshikova, a therapist at the Teledoctor24 service.
The expert adds that today the attention of doctors is focused on the intestinal microbiome — the main manager of metabolic processes substances and immunity.
“Irrational, unbalanced nutrition leads to a disruption of the species composition and a decrease in our protective microflora — bifido- and lactobacilli. Stress, taking medications, especially antibacterial ones, and violating the rules of a healthy lifestyle are also negative factors. That is why probiotic complexes are increasingly being prescribed and more and more attention is being paid to healthy lifestyle,” concludes the doctor.
Otorhinolaryngologist and phoniatrist, expert of the ANO “Culture of Health”, Candidate of Medical Sciences Daria Kharina is sure that in case of any complications it is important not to “heal” the body. A syrup with a complex anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect can cope with residual cough after an acute respiratory viral infection. If the mucous membrane of the paranasal sinuses is inflamed — sinusitis or sinusitis — rinse your nose with saline solution. And be careful with vasoconstrictor drops and sprays, their long-term use will only do harm.