Complications in the health should never be allowed to progress
Research studies have established a number of complications linked to a COVID infection. A coronavirus attack does not limit itself to the respiratory tract only. It can affect other body organs where there are receptor cells that facilitate the entry of the virus.
Apart from the common cold symptoms and other symptoms distinct to the disease, there are certain other symptoms which are also seen in those having COVID infection.
One such weird symptom related to COVID is tingling sensation in the body.
What is this sensation?
This weird sensation which many people have experienced post-COVID, is numbness and tingling sensation.
In medical terms it is called paresthesia. In this, a patient experiences burning or prickling sensation in the hands, arms, legs, or feet and also even in other parts of the body.
Though this kind of sensation is painless, it interferes with the daily activity of the person. Constant feeling of pin piercing, feeling of something crawling under skin or itching are enough to distract a person.
A research study of more than 1,500 people who had COVID, found that these people were three times more likely to report the tingling sensation than others. Viral infections do impact the nerves of the body as a result of which the individual experiences tingling sensation.
How long does this symptom last?
The symptoms last for a few weeks. In some cases, patients experience this pain for more than 3 months. A study by the Washington University Pain Center found that nearly 30% of its COVID patients reported this particular symptom and close to 6% of them experienced it as long as 3 months. The study has thrown light on the fact that the duration of this symptom may be due to the fact that the virus has lingering effects on the peripheral nerves of the body.
When should you contact a doctor?
Many of us live under the assumption that minor health related issues like tingling sensation in the body can ease within a few days. We have often seen how our legs get numb after sitting for a long period of time and this probably gives us the confidence that every tingling sensation might as well get over with time.
However, it should be noted that body related complications should never be allowed to progress. If the tingling sensation persists for days, consult your doctor and start taking the medicines prescribed to you.
What is the current status of COVID?
In India, COVID cases are rising. India has recorded 6,594 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours. So far, two cases of two new variants of Omicron, BA.4 and BA.5 have also been reported in the country.
Though the hospitalisation rate has not increased after the second wave of COVID, experts have warned people to not stop taking COVID precautions.
The virus is highly mutating and only when we do not follow the safety rules we lay the breeding ground for the virus and expose a bigger threat to ourselves.
Read: Long COVID-How to manage distressing change in hearing