In May, the status of the new coronavirus will be lowered to “Category 5” under the Infectious Diseases Law. However, some suffer from the after-effects. I interviewed the current situation such as the symptoms and treatment methods.
Yoshihiko Yoshida (52):
“I’m just worried. I wonder if it won’t heal anymore, what will happen?”
Yoshihiko Yoshida, 52, who manufactures leather products such as bags in Kasugai City, Aichi Prefecture, was infected with the new coronavirus at the beginning of the new year of 2021 and suffered from long-term sequelae.
Mr.Yoshida:
“When I was taking a shower at night, I was washing my body with body soap, and then I noticed that it didn’t smell like rice. It’s the same as eating rice with your nose pinched all the time, so it’s like you’re going crazy in your head.”
Especially bad was the loss of sense of smell. It is said that it affected not only daily life but also work.
A machine used at work to thin leather. If there is a malfunction or defect, it will smell like burning, but if you do not know the smell, you will be late to stop the machine, and the risk of a fire will increase.
I didn’t know what to do, and I spent about 8 months without going to a medical institution with anxiety. My sense of smell suddenly returned while I was on a business trip.
Mr.Yoshida:
“As soon as I got coffee in my room, I thought I could smell it. When I turned around, it was really coffee. It may be a coincidence, but I was cured three days after I got the vaccine. Various information comes from various sources. I think that it will be quite different mentally if it is transmitted.”
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has data that the vaccine is effective after the onset of sequelae, but further consideration is required.
A clinic in Obu City, Aichi Prefecture.
The number of people visiting outpatient clinics for the aftereffects of corona has decreased to about one-third compared to the peak of the “6th wave” in February last year, but it is said that there are still about 10 people a day.
Director Koji Naito of Hiiragi Mimihana Throat Clinic:
“Dysgeusia, olfactory disturbance, and memory disturbance are no longer seen so often, and now there are many cases of general malaise, headache, sore throat, and prolonged cough.”
It is said that the symptoms of aftereffects have changed along with the mutation of the Delta strain, the Omicron strain, and the new corona.
In addition, Dr. Naito says that if you take the new corona oral medicine, you can reduce the aftereffects by about 30%, but some people cannot prescribe it due to the problem of drug interactions.
As for the reduction to the fixed “5th class” in such a situation…
Director Naito:
“Even if it doesn’t say ‘fever outpatient’, I can treat many patients with fever in general practice, so I welcome it. Since the number of infected people is large, there will be a certain number of people who will develop aftereffects.