PEOPLE who have caught Covid are at increased risk of several autoimmune diseases, research suggests.
Most Brits have already contracted the bug, with many having had it more than once.
Covid-19 has been connected to a rise in a autoimmune diseases
The majority of those have a level of protection from the virus following a mammoth vaccine rollout, as well as prior infection.
But even since early in the pandemic, scientists have known that Covid can cause body-wide inflammation, and have lingering effects on the immune system.
The bug has also been connected to a rise in autoimmune diseases, in which the body attacks its own healthy tissue, such as diabetes.
US cardiologist Dr Eric Topol analysed the results of three existing studies to determine which autoimmune disorders Covid could trigger.
In the investigation, published on his website, he revealed the 11 conditions which have been connected to the viral infection.
He said: “While we’ve fully recognised that people with autoimmune diseases are more vulnerable to Covid and adverse outcomes, the flip of that is that Covid can make some people vulnerable to autoimmune diseases.
“We need to better understand how the dysregulation of our immune system that can occur from a Covid infection (or even more rarely from a vaccine) can be linked with a serious autoimmune condition.”
1 . Arthritis
Arthritis a long-term condition that causes painful swelling of the joints – usually the wrists, hands and feet.
There are two main types. Osteoarthritis affects around nine million people, and rheumatoid arthritis affects 300,000.
Osteoarthritis develops from general wear and tear, while rheumatoid is an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system malfunctions and attacks the body instead of intruders.
The pain is triggered by inflammation and swelling and eventually, bone erosion and the deformation of joints.
The researchers found that people who contracted Covid-19 had a 45 per cent greater risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis than those who hadn’t.
2. Ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a long-term condition which causes the spine and other areas of the body to become inflamed.
It causes back pain and stiffness and tiredness, the NHS says.
It may also cause pain in the knees, ankles, and hips.
In some people, the condition gets better with time, but for others it can get slowly worse.
The scientists found that Covid infection increased the risk of developing this autoimmune disorder by 21 per cent.
There’s no cure for AS and it’s not possible to reverse the damage caused.
However, physiotherapy and painkillers can improve comfort and reduce inflammation.
3. Lupus
Lupus is a long-term condition that parks joint pain, skin rashes and tiredness.
It causes inflammation and tissue damage in organs that are affected – potentially the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels.
When it is present in a moderate form, it causes inflammation of other parts of the skin and body, including lungs, heart and kidneys.
Severe lupus can be life-threatening as the inflammation it causes can severely damage the heart, lungs, brain or kidneys.
Selena Gomez is one famous face to suffer from the condition, which led to her needing a life-saving kidney transplant in 2017.
The research found that lupus is 30 per cent more likely in people who’ve had Covid than those who haven’t.
There is no cure for lupus, but early treatment of the symptoms can reduce the risk of it getting worse and help control flare-ups.
In the UK, it is generally treated with anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen and hydroxychloroquine for fatigue and skin and joint problems.
4. Dermatopolymyositis
Dermatomyositis is a disease that triggers muscle inflammation, weakness and a skin rash.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the muscle weakness involves the muscles closest to the trunk, such as those in your hips, thighs, shoulders, upper arms and neck, and tends to gradually worsen.
Covid infection seems to increase the likelihood of developing the condition by 20 per cent, the researchers found.
5. Systemic sclerosis
Also known as scleroderma, systemic sclerosis is a relatively uncommon condition which hardens and tightens the skin and connective tissues, like cartilage, bone and blood.
It can affect the esophagus, lower gastrointestinal tract, lungs, heart, and kidneys.
In some cases it leads to serious problems, such as shortness of breath, high blood pressure and pulmonary hypertension.
The scientists found Covid infection increases your risk by 20 per cent.
6. Sjogren’s syndrome
This autoimmune condition attacks the glands that create moisture in the eyes, mouth, and other parts of the body.
It causes dry eyes, mouth, skin, tiredness, vaginal dryness and muscle or joint pain, the NHS says.
It’s 26 per cent more likely after Covid.
7. Mixed connective tissue disease
Mixed connective tissue disease happens when two or more connective tissue diseases overlap, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Those who’ve had Covid are 20 per cent more likely to develop the condition than people who haven’t, the research stated.
8. Behcet’s disease
Behcet’s is a rare and poorly understood condition that causes chronic swelling of the blood vessels, raising the risk of blindness and stroke, the NHS says.
People with Covid were found to be 19 per cent more likely to develop it than others.
9. Polymyalgia rheumatica
Polymyalgia rheumatica causes muscle pain and stiffness in the shoulders, upper arms, hip area, and neck, the National Institute of Health says.
According to the NHS, the main symptom is muscle stiffness in the morning that lasts longer than 45 minutes.
Cases of the condition were found 20 per cent more often in people who have had Covid than those who haven’t.
10. Vasculitis
Vasculitis is an inflammation of blood vessels that can cause organ and tissue damage, according to the Mayo Clinic.
One or many organs can be affected.
Some of the symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, hearing loss, temporary or permanent blindness and shortness of breath.
Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher recently opened up about the symptoms that suddenly disrupted his own life.
Covid infection increased the risk of developing vasculitis by 26 per cent, according to the experts.
11. Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes crusty patches with silvery scales to flare-up on the skin.
They normally appear on the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back, but can crop up anywhere on the body, the NHS says.
Kim Kardashian has revealed she has finally learned to live with the condition, which she described as her “biggest flaw”, while model Cara Delevingne is also a sufferer.
Its severity varies from person to person and for some people it is merely a small irritation.
In more serious cases it can have a crushing impact on a sufferer’s life.
The researchers found Covid infection increased the risk of developing psoriasis by 38 per cent.