Long COVID consists of debilitating symptoms lasting for months or years after SARS-CoV-2 infection. A recent exploratory study has linked long COVID to the herpes virus and reduced stress hormone levels. This study included 99 participants with long COVID and 116 healthy participants who never had the infection or recovered from it. The long COVID group reported 50% lower cortisol levels than healthy participants and dysfunctional or unusual levels of blood and immune cells, indicating stressful immune systems.
Interestingly in people with long COVID, a probability of reactivation of the Epstein-Barr virus and Varicella-zoster virus was found, both of which belong to the herpes family, persisting indefinitely in the body post-infection. The results do not indicate that low cortisol levels or herpes viruses can cause long COVID but indicate their association. The study opens new avenues…
