TLDR The study identified five types of long COVID symptoms and suggests tailored management strategies for each.
A cross-sectional study at St. Marianna University Hospital in Japan analyzed 500 long COVID patients and classified them into five clusters based on symptoms: fatigue alone, fatigue with strong physical symptoms, fatigue with strong psychological symptoms, hair loss, and taste and smell disorders. Fatigue was the most common symptom, reported by 59.8% of patients, while hair loss was reported by 14.9%. Patients with fatigue were more likely to take leaves of absence from work, while those with hair loss or taste and smell disorders were more likely to continue working. Hair loss, a symptom of long COVID, typically starts 2 months after symptom onset due to telogen effluvium. The study suggests different management strategies for different long COVID sequelae phenotypes and emphasizes the need for a multifaceted approach, including psychological and social evaluation. The study's limitations include potential selection bias and the inability to evaluate patients with severe fatigue who couldn't leave their homes.
25 citations,
December 2021 in “Journal of Medical Virology” COVID-19 can cause a type of hair loss that usually starts 74 days after infection, affecting mostly women, but most patients eventually recover.
88 citations,
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3 citations,
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6 citations,
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7 citations,
April 2021 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Hair loss (telogen effluvium) cases rose during the pandemic, especially in Hispanic and non-White groups, and were linked to other health issues and COVID-19.
214 citations,
March 1993 in “Archives of Dermatology” Telogen effluvium is a reversible hair loss condition that requires a detailed diagnosis and often resolves on its own.
September 2023 in “International Journal of Trichology” Oral Vitamin D can improve hair density and reduce hair loss in Telogen Effluvium patients.
