Some of these symptoms, say researchers from the University of Milan, are caused by long-standing thyroid gland infections.
The thyroid gland is situated in the neck and is responsible for the production of hormones necessary for the body to function properly.
According to the Italian researchers, the COVID-19 virus can affect how these glands work for up to a year after initial infection after reports from patients experiencing “thyroid dysfunction”.
The University of Milan’s Illaria Muller said: “There is a clear link between thyroid dysfunction and COVID-19 disease.
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The Stimulate-ICP trial, due to start recruiting soon, will be one of the first UK trials to look at this link.
While there is a possibility blood thinners could be effective, Professor Betty Raman of the University of Oxford said: “There needs to be more dedicated studies looking at the efficacy of anticoagulants (blood thinners), just like we how we did with [treatments for] the acute unwell patients.”
University College London’s Professor Ami Banerjee echoes this point, concluding there is not yet conclusive proof.
However, with some patients beginning to feel left behind by the lack of new treatments, any avenue of research is one filled with hope and possibility for an improved quality of life.
