Researchers say they may have uncovered an important clue to how COVID-19 can lead to long COVID. In a study published in Nature, a team led by scientists at the University of Texas at Austin found evidence that infection with the coronavirus may reactivate other viruses that had been lying dormant in the body.
The research looked at more than 1,100 patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 at 20 hospitals across the United States. By studying this large group, the scientists were able to explore possible biological changes linked to longer-lasting symptoms after the initial infection.
The findings point to a possible mechanism for long COVID: rather than acting alone, the coronavirus may set off other inactive viruses, which could help explain why some people continue to feel unwell long after the acute illness has passed. The study adds to a growing body of work focused on why long COVID affects some patients differently than others.
While the results offer a promising lead, they do not by themselves settle the question of what causes long COVID in every case. Still, the study gives researchers another path to investigate as they work to understand the condition and how COVID-19 can trigger lasting health problems.
