Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome after a Critical COVID-19: A Case Report

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many impacts in health, economic and social aspect worldwide. Infection of SARS-CoV-2 affects many organ systems. Post-COVID-19 syndrome is a condition when some of those infected with SARS-CoV-2 are complaining symptoms that persist for weeks to months even the PCR was negative. Case Illustrations: We present a case of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome in a 59 years old man with persistent respiratory symptoms for 3 months since the onset of a critical COVID-19. He was admitted to the hospital with critical COVID-19 which he received treatment for COVID-19 according to protocol and mechanical ventilation via tracheostomy in intensive care unit (ICU). In the post-acute COVID-19 conditions, he complained of persistent fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, limited walking activity and palpitations. Discussion: In most cases of asymptomatic, mild and moderate COVID-19 symptoms, patients usually resolve without complications. However, in cases with severe symptoms, systemic hyperinflammation of the immune system occurs due to activation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes various complications in several organs. The management of patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome is determined based on clinical assessment of the patient, radiological examination, and laboratory and pulmonary function tests if possible. Patients with radiological abnormalities without clinical symptoms, evaluation is carried out 8 to 12 weeks after therapy and can be earlier if patients have any complains. Meanwhile patients with clinical symptoms with or without radiological abnormalities, need to evaluate after 4 weeks to see if there is any improvements. In addition to symptomatic treatment, oxygen therapy, rehabilitation, psychotherapy and nutritional therapy can also be given in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome. Conclusion: Post-COVID-19 syndrome is a condition that affected almost all of the organ system in the body. The most common symptoms are persistent fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, myalgia, malaise and headache. This condition impact both physical and mental health that persists for weeks or months after being infected with SARS-CoV-2. Patient with post-COVID-19 syndrome should be prioritized due to their impact on the global health burden. Those who diagnosed with post-COVID-19 syndrome also needed psychological and emotional support to deal with persistent symptoms caused by post-COVID-19 condition so the survivors can return to living their lives as before. Keywords: Post-COVID-19 Syndrome, Long COVID, Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome, Critical COVID.