Long COVID could become Finland's largest chronic disease, warns minister
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-finland-long-covid-idUSKBN2JH14W
(Reuters) - Long COVID, where symptoms of COVID-19 persist for months after an initial infection, could be emerging as a chronic disease in Finland, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru said on Friday.
Speaking at a news conference, she referred to a Finnish expert panels summary of more than 4,000 international studies which showed one in two adults and around 2% of children may experience prolonged symptoms connected to COVID-19.
There is a threat that Finland will see the emergence of the largest, or one of the largest, new groups of chronic diseases, and that not only too many adults will suffer from a long-term COVID-19, but at worst also children, Kiuru said.
The Finnish institute of health and welfare considers an illness chronic when it has a major impact on public health and the national economy through lowered working capacity and strains on healthcare.
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