During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were many concerns about its potential long-term effects. Since the virus appears to be in its declining phase, experts are now able to examine long-term COVID symptoms and the daily lives of those who got infected.

In this article, we’ll analyze the effects of COVID-19 long-term symptoms in adults. In addition, we’ll explore the epidemic of antibiotic-resistant bugs currently developing in India. Let’s dive in.

USA: New Reports on Long-Term COVID Symptoms in Adults

News in recent weeks have drawn attention to long COVID patients across the U.S.
Federal data recently released by the CDC revealed that nearly 15% of U.S. adults who previously had a COVID infection are currently experiencing long-term COVID symptoms.

The data revealed that 81% of these adults have difficulty performing daily activities. A quarter of these same respondents acknowledged that their limitations were “significant”.

The highest rate of limitations in daily activity comes from the 18-29 age group. The lowest rate, on the other hand, corresponds to the 40-49 age group. These figures show that more than 18 million Americans are currently suffering from long-term COVID symptoms.

Future Prospects

As the United States faces a potential fall and winter wave of COVID-19, the number of Americans experiencing long-term COVID symptoms is expected to increase.

Although estimates on the prevalence and severity of these symptoms in adults vary, experts determined that this is a challenge that should not alarm us but will concern us for a while longer.

India’s Antibiotic-Resistant Bug Pandemic

In the western Indian state of Maharashtra, doctors are dealing with a rash of antibiotic-resistant “superbug infections.”
Neonatal infections in India are responsible for more than 60,000 newborn fatalities each year. This makes it one of the countries hardest hit by infections with “antimicrobial resistance”.

Causes of the Outbreak

At Kasturba Hospital, tests were conducted to determine which antibiotics would be most effective against five major bacterial pathogens. They revealed that several vital drugs were barely effective.

One of the main causes of the bug epidemic is the development of antibiotic resistance in patients. Antibiotic resistance is the consequence of an indiscriminate prescription of antibiotics. Some of the reasons behind this bad practice are:

• Most of the treated patients do not carry prescriptions and do not remember the prescribed drugs. This makes it very difficult to obtain records of a patient’s previous exposure to antibiotics.
• Treatment of viral infections or parasites with antibiotics, this has been going on with Malaria and Dengue.
• Treatment of diarrheal diseases and upper respiratory infections, for which antibiotics may not be effective
• Treatment of early COVID susceptible cases with antibiotics
• The low relative cost of antibiotics favor their prescription instead of detailed and more expensive studies*

*Prescriptions for broad-spectrum antibiotics actually constitute 75% of all prescriptions issued in Indian hospitals.

Hospital-acquired infections are also to blame. Antibiotics are often administered to make up for poor hygiene and sanitation.

The principal pathogens are:

• Escherichia coli.
• Klebsiella pneumoniae. Leads to lung infection, cuts in the skin, and meningitis
• Staphylococcus aureus. It’s a dangerous food-borne bacteria.

International Recommendations For The Future of The Epidemic

To address the growing threat of superbugs, India needs to strengthen diagnostic laboratories, train more infectious disease doctors, reduce hospital-acquired infections, and train doctors in evidence-based antibiotic use.

Key Takeaways

While the COVID-19 virus appears to be under control worldwide, we have to pay attention to the virus’ long-term effects. COVID is luckily on its way out, but its consequences will stay with us for some time. We’ll also closely follow the situation in India to inform you of any new updates that may affect your future travel plans.

Getting tested for COVID-19 not only helps researchers track the virus, but keeps everyone around you safe as well.

Help keep the virus at bay, get tested before your next trip. Find testing locations near you with our global directory.