Latent viruses reactivated by severe COVID-19 may drive long-term disability, study indicates
A study found that severe COVID-19 can reactivate dormant viruses in the body, with nearly half of hospitalized patients experiencing such reactivation. One family of these viruses, present in most people, was linked to persistent long COVID symptoms. This reactivation may contribute to lasting physical disability.
Severe COVID-19 appears capable of rousing dormant viruses that normally remain hidden in the body, according to the study's findings. Among hospitalized patients, nearly half showed signs of such reactivation, suggesting the immune disruption caused by severe infection creates conditions where these latent pathogens can re-emerge.
One particular virus family, carried by most people, showed a notable association with persistent long COVID symptoms. Researchers linked this reactivation to ongoing physical disability in affected patients, indicating that the consequences of severe COVID may extend beyond the initial illness through secondary viral activity.
This finding could reshape understanding of long COVID's origins, potentially affecting millions who experience persistent symptoms after hospitalization. If reactivated viruses contribute to lasting disability, it may influence how clinicians monitor recovered patients and could open avenues for antiviral treatments targeting these secondary infections. Healthcare systems may face increased demand for rehabilitation services, while researchers might prioritize studying virus reactivation as a mechanism behind post-viral syndromes more broadly.