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The novel coronavirus has been an ongoing mystery for doctors to solve and decipher. Nine months after the pandemic hit almost every country in the world, doctors are still trying to answer why a portion of people who were diagnosed with Covid-19 are still suffering from some symptoms months later.
In Morocco, these patients, given the name «long haulers», reported persistent symptoms that they continued to suffer from even after having been declared recovered from Covid-19. One of these symptoms is the loss of smell and taste.
Losing smell and taste and fatigue
Almost four months after contracting the coronavirus, Khadija was not able to recover the sense of smell, which she lost during the height of her illness. «I tested positive for the coronavirus in the beginning of August and ever since I have not been able to smell things», said the Tangier-based woman.
After recovering her sense of taste, which she lost during her infection, Khadija explained that she tried to improve her sense of smell by doing exercises and stimulating the receptors inside her nose using strong perfumes and smells.
But even by doing so, she realized that «even the things [ she] could smell had the same smell». «I tried garlic, onions and cheese and they all smelled the same to me», she recalled.
In addition to her smelling problems, Khadija reported extreme fatigue. She explained that she couldn’t get rid of the symptom that has been ongoing ever since her infection. «I feel sleepy and tired most of the time and unlike before my infection I need long hours of sleep to rest», Khadija said.
While Khadija was left with two persistent Covid-19 symptoms, Mariam, a Moroccan who has contracted the virus in France, reported similar issues. During her infection, the Tangier-native suffered from mild symptoms, which included a headache and the loss of smell and taste.
Although she recovered, Mariam was left with the two symptoms months after. «I still can’t fully recover my taste and smell senses», she regretted. «I can differentiate between salty and sweet food but I still can’t fully define what I am eating», she explained.
Coughing and breathing problems
Similarly, Monia, a Casablanca mother-of-two who contracted the virus along with her husband and older daughter said that she is still suffering from Covid-19 sequelae. «Although I had mild symptoms, I am still struggling with some symptoms that refuse to leave six weeks after my infection», she told Yabiladi.
Monia explained that she suffers a terrible headache and a loss of smell, two symptoms she reported during her illness.
«My husband, however, is still suffering from breathing problems and his lungs were affected by the virus», she reported, adding that he is undergoing exercises to improve his lungs’ function following the Covid infection. «He is also still coughing and the slightest discomfort can trigger that», she explained.
In northern Morocco, Samira, who had quite a stressful and painful battle with Covid-19, is also a long hauler. The Taza-native spent 14 days in the Ibn Baja Hospital and was put under artificial ventilation as she suffered from breathing problems.
«I left the hospital about a month ago and tested negative for the virus but I am still suffering», Samira said, referring to lingering symptoms.
In addition to severe exhaustion and fatigue, the 48-year-old still suffers from joint pain. «I find it difficult to breathe while doing any simple effort, even when yawning, I feel severe pain in the lungs, and I also suffer from a persistent cough, especially at night. In addition to that, the tone of my voice is no longer the same», she said.
Unlike other common persistent symptoms, Samira said that, strangely, after her infection, «she feels constant hunger, even after eating».
Loss of muscle mass
Unlike previously mentioned sequelae, Abdellah who contracted the coronavirus a month ago experienced a dangerous yet strange symptom after being declared recovered from the virus. The El Jadida-native was hospitalized and admitted to the intensive care ward during his infection, which was marked by severe symptoms.
He told Yabiladi that while in the hospital, he lost a lot of weight in a rapid and alarming way. Even after recovering, the man suffered from «rapid loss of muscle mass».
The condition refers to the rapid decrease in body mass which occurs during the height of illness and persists even after recovery. Abdellah is currently trying to regain muscle mass by training and working out, despite other symptoms that include extreme fatigue and tachycardia.
Studying and observing persistent symptoms that follow Covid-19 infections, doctors in Morocco are currently working on a study with numbers and data on the issue reported among many long haulers.
