Researchers have unveiled findings suggesting that individuals may experience “long colds” — prolonged symptoms after acute respiratory infections. The study, spearheaded by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), was published in the Lancet’s EClinicalMedicine journal.Common symptoms that may persist over four weeks post-infection encompass coughing, stomach pain, and diarrhoea. The study highlighted that the severity of the initial illness plays a significant role in the risk of developing prolonged symptoms.The research implies that there may be lasting health ramifications after respiratory infections such as colds, influenza, or pneumonia that have previously been overlooked. Nonetheless, it remains uncertain whether these symptoms mirror the severity or duration of long Covid symptoms.Prof Adrian Martineau, affiliated with QMUL as a clinical professor of respiratory infection and immunity, articulated that this research might resonate with individuals who have grappled with lingering symptoms after a respiratory infection even after receiving a negative Covid-19 test result.He emphasized the importance of continued research into the long-term consequences of Covid-19 and other respiratory infections. A deeper understanding could illuminate the reasons behind prolonged symptoms in certain individuals, ultimately guiding better treatment and care.Data extracted from the Covidence UK study, which had 10,203 participants, revealed that some individuals experience long-term symptoms — termed “long colds” — even after respiratory infections that were not Covid-19. The results suggest that a subset of people might experience lingering effects post infections like colds, flu, or pneumonia.Of the participants, 1,343 had contracted a Covid infection, and 472 had respiratory infections that tested negative for Covid. Findings disclosed that both groups, those with and without Covid, had a 22% likelihood of enduring prolonged symptoms.Martineau noted differences in the symptom profiles between the two groups. While taste and smell disturbances, dizziness, heart palpitations, sweating, and hair loss were more prevalent in the Covid group, the non-Covid group predominantly reported symptoms like coughing and hoarseness. Breathlessness and fatigue were common across both groups.The study identified a correlation between the intensity of the initial illness and the likelihood of developing long-term symptoms. However, the team emphasized the need for further research to discern why certain individuals experience prolonged symptoms while others don’t.Dr David Strain from the University of Exeter, who was not part of the study, commended the findings, highlighting their implication that lingering symptoms could be a concern post various infections, not just Covid-19.