Since the early spread of the coronavirus, scientists have known that it can cause inflammation throughout the body, and have long-lasting effects on the immune system. This imbalance has been linked to a rise in autoimmune diseases, where the body attacks its own healthy tissues, such as diabetes

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Edited by| Paul Mitchel

 

Health  section -  CJ journalist

 

World - October,22,2023 

 

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The American cardiologist Dr. Eric Topol analyzed the results of three existing studies to identify autoimmune disorders that can be caused by “covid-19”

In the investigation published on his website, he revealed 11 cases associated with viral infections

1 . Arthritis : it is a long-term condition that causes painful swelling of the joints, usually in the wrists, hands and feet

There are two main types of this inflammation: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

Osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage covering the bones in the joints is worn out. As for rheumatoid arthritis, it is a disease in which the immune system attacks the joints, starting from the lining of the joints

The pain is caused by inflammation, swelling and eventually bone wear and joint deformation

The researchers found that those who were infected with "covid-19" were 45% more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than those who did not have it

2. Ankylosing spondylitis :it is a long-term condition that leads to inflammation of the spine and other areas of the body and causes back pain, stiffness and fatigue. It may also cause pain in the knees, ankles and hips

Scientists have found that Corona infection increases the risk of developing this autoimmune disorder by 21%.

3. Lupus : lupus is a long-term condition that causes joint pain, skin rashes, and fatigue. It causes inflammation and tissue damage in the affected organs, such as joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, heart and blood vessels

A study found that the likelihood of developing lupus increases by 30% in those who were infected with "covid-19" compared to those who did not get it

4. Dermatomyositis : is a disease that causes inflammation of the muscles, weakness and rash. According to the Mayo Clinic Foundation, muscle weakness involves the muscles closest to the trunk, such as those in the hips, thighs, shoulders, upper arms and neck, and tends to worsen gradually

The researchers found that "covid-19" infection seems to increase the likelihood of contracting the condition by 20%.

5. Systemic sclerosis: also known as scleroderma, systemic sclerosis is a relatively uncommon condition that leads to hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues, such as cartilage, bones and blood. It can affect the esophagus, lower gastrointestinal tract, lungs, heart, kidneys

Scientists have found that infection with” covid-19 " increases the risk of contracting it by 20%.

6. Sjogren's syndrome : this autoimmune condition attacks the glands that produce moisture in the eyes, mouth and other parts of the body, causing dry eyes, mouth and skin, fatigue, vaginal dryness, muscle or joint pain

And patients with "covid-19" are more likely to be infected with this condition by 26%.

7. Mixed connective tissue disease: mixed connective tissue disease occurs when two or more connective tissue diseases overlap, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis

The research stated that those who have been infected with "covid-19" are 20% more likely to develop the condition than people who have not been infected with it

8. Behcet's disease is a rare and poorly understood condition that causes chronic swelling of blood vessels, increasing the risk of blindness and stroke. It turned out that people with"covid-19" are 19% more likely to be infected with it compared to others.
9. Rheumatic polymyalgia : this condition causes muscle pain and stiffness in the shoulders, arms, hip area and neck. The main symptom of the condition is morning muscle stiffness that lasts longer than 45 minutes

The researchers found that those who were infected with"covid-19" had a 20% risk of developing rheumatic muscle pain.

10. Vasculitis: this inflammation can cause damage to organs and tissues, according to the”Mayo Clinic”. Some of the symptoms of this inflammation include fatigue, dizziness, hearing loss, temporary or permanent blindness and shortness of breath

According to experts, the “covid-19” infection increases the risk of developing vasculitis by 26%.

11. Psoriasis : it is a skin condition that causes flaky spots with silvery scales to appear on the skin. They usually appear on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, but they can appear anywhere on the body, according to the National Health Service, and researchers found that Corona infection increases the risk of psoriasis by 38%.