新型しんがたコロナ緊急きんきゅう事態じたい宣言せんげんから5年ねん 「後遺症こういしょう」の患者かんじゃ いまも

It has been 5 years since the first state of emergency was declared for seven prefectures, including Osaka and Hyogo, due to the spread of the new coronavirus.

Many patients who are suffering from aftereffects after being infected continue to visit clinics in Osaka City, and doctors are urging thorough infection control measures.

<br>In Japan, the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in January 2020, and on April 7, the first state of emergency was declared for seven prefectures including Osaka and Hyogo.

The number of infected people reached approximately 33.8 million until May of the year before last, when the classification under the Infectious Diseases Control Law changed to Category 5, and there are quite a few people suffering from so-called aftereffects, such as fatigue, cough, and shortness of breath that continue after infection.

<br><br>The respiratory medicine clinic in Ikuno Ward, Osaka, has been treating patients with aftereffects since its opening in July 2022, including those who have been bedridden for nearly a year due to general fatigue and those who have a persistent cough that prevents them from sleeping at night.

<br><br>The patients are mainly in their 30s to 50s, and many have improved their symptoms and some have been able to return to society by continuing rehabilitation such as aerobic exercise using training machines and breathing exercises.

<br><br>On the other hand, compared to other respiratory diseases such as regular pneumonia, it is observed that when sequelae occur, recovery tends to take a long time. Currently, among the 14 patients undergoing rehabilitation, there are people who have been receiving treatment for over two years, and others whose symptoms have not improved easily, making it difficult for them to continue working.

<br>Director Matsumoto of Kida Respiratory and Rehabilitation Clinic said, It has been 5 years since the first state of emergency was declared, but recently there are people getting infected and suffering from aftereffects, so I think its a disease we should not let our guard down against.

I personally dont feel at all like weve overcome COVID.

I hope that people other than those at high risk of severe illness, such as the elderly, will also thoroughly implement infection prevention measures, he said.

<br>At one point, a patient living in a wheelchair<br>A woman in her 50s living in Osaka Prefecture was diagnosed with sequelae after experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath during light exercise and general fatigue after contracting COVID-19 in August 2022.

<br><br>During the period when the symptoms were most severe, the person could not get out of bed without help and needed a wheelchair when going out, which had a serious impact on daily life, forcing them to quit their job.

<br><br>The woman has been undergoing rehabilitation since December 2023, training her lower body muscles with a training machine and doing breathing exercises for about 60 minutes once a week. Her symptoms are reportedly improving, as she can now walk without using a cane.

<br><br>The woman said, In my case, the results came from working hard in rehabilitation, so it was good to gain the experience that even when things are tough, you can manage somehow.

They said, My body may never fully recover, but I am not overly saddened and am dedicating myself to rehabilitation by thinking about what I can do every day.