COVID Can Wake up a Slew of Dormant Viruses Inside You
The study found 11 dormant viruses reactivated within 40 days of admission, and nearly half of patients had at least one reawakening.
- On Wednesday, a study published in the journal Nature found severe COVID-19 infections reactivate dormant viruses in hospitalized patients, identifying 11 pathogens including Epstein-Barr and cytomegalovirus that 'wake up' during acute illness.
- The study challenges the prevailing view that reactivation only occurs in immunocompromised individuals; researchers believe the intense stress of severe COVID-19 overwhelms the immune system, amplifying inflammation.
- Analyzing 1,154 hospitalized patients across 20 U.S. hospitals between May 2020 and March 2021, researchers found evidence of at least one reactivated virus in 47.9% of participants.
- Detection of reactivated Anelloviridae during convalescence was significantly associated with persistent physical deficits in Long Covid patients, though researchers caution this does not prove direct causation.
- Researchers are currently testing antiviral medications, including Truvada, to inhibit viral replication in Long Covid patients, potentially enabling targeted clinical management strategies in the future.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Severe COVID-19 reactivates dormant viruses and may leave a lasting viral signature
A longitudinal study of 1,154 hospitalized COVID-19 patients found widespread reactivation of chronic Herpesviridae and Anelloviridae, with distinct viral patterns linked to disease severity, inflammation, and clinical outcomes. Anelloviridae also persisted during convalescence and were associated with physical deficits in long COVID, although the study did not establish causation.
It has been revealed that COVID-19 has awakened other viruses lurking within the body. These viruses were also linked to the worsening of COVID-19 symptoms or the prolonged duration of side effects. If a causal relationship is confirmed in future research, it is expected that treatments targeting other viruses could be helpful in treating the aftereffects of COVID-19. Esther Melamed, USA
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