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Assoc Professor Andrew Edgley gave a wonderful presentation on being a senior systems analyst and programmer in the Pathology sector. In 1988 he wrote a laboratory management system (Medipath) and from 1989 to today I have been fully employed installing and supporting that system. This system manages all aspects of a modern laboratory. After 33 years, there are still 6 sites running the original system and many sites dependent on spin-off systems. Today, at the unusual age for a programmer of 82, Andrew still provides support and development to Royal Children’s and Royal Women’s hospitals and the main lab in the Peter Doherty Institute. During the development of the Covid-19 pandemic, all labs had to go from Zero COVID-19 tests to 15000 a day (or more) Andrew related most interesting Long Covid information:
These comments are based on articled written by Professor Peter Doherty
In a group of 2649 patients out of a Wuhan hospital, around January to May 2020, studied 2 years later:
89% went back to work. (That is 11% could not return to work after 2 years)
55% of those who returned to work reported at least one post-covid-19 symptom.
We know that, unlike Flu, COVID-19 spreads throughout the body. This virus is also a blood-clotting disease. This feature is the underlying cause of lung
disfunction – by creating micro-clots in the tiny capillaries of the lung alveolar circulation.
In Australia, about 5% of patients who have had a diagnosed case of COVID-19 suffer Long Covid symptoms 3+ months after the first positive diagnosis.
That 5% means 510,000 LC cases in Australia! The immunology industry (as represented by Professor Peter Doherty in this talk) consider that there are two potential pathways for LC: Persistent viral presence and recurrence; Covid-19 and other viruses. Our own immune system over-reacts. Most of us will be aware of dormant viruses that reoccur: Herpes Simplex is responsible for cold sores. The first instance for an infant is usually a loving kiss on the lips. The virus creates the sore and out immune system deals with that. But meanwhile, the virus moves up the nerve pathways and establishes a position in the main facial nerve (trigeminal). An abrasion or sunburn can stimulate the immune response and also trigger the dormant Herpes – via the same nerve pathways: thus repeating the cycle. (Acyclovir ointment interferes with viral replication and is a good treatment for the cold sore) Chickenpox virus (varicella zoster) can cause shingles after decades Other herpes viruses: Epstein Barr and Cytomegalovirus also have a dormant mode, and both these can cause chronic fatigue syndrome. COVID-19 can trigger these viruses to reappear from dormancy. On the other hand: a wide NSW recent study shows that patients with mild COVID-19 followed by LC symptoms have significantly elevated immune markers 8 months after the initial diagnosis. Covid conclusions:
Do not catch the virus: vaccinate; wear PP gear when you are forced into close company; get anti-viral therapy as soon as you can if you have a positive diagnosis.
There is very extensive research going on in Australia and the World – but no golden bullet has been cast!
Long COVID symptoms include: fatigue, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing, memory, concentration or sleep problems, a persistent cough, chest pain, difficulty speaking, muscle aches, loss of smell or taste depression or anxiety, fever. In children, symptoms predominantly include mood symptoms and fatigue |
