It has been said that the Covid-19 pandemic is likely to greatly increase the number of people who develop ME/CFS and other post-Covid illnesses. It seems likely that the underlying biology of long Covid is not dissimilar to that of other post-infectious fatigue syndromes, to post-critical illness syndrome and to that of ME/CFS.

ME is a debilitating condition, usually triggered by a viral infection, in which the body seems to turn on itself causing multiple symptoms including brain fog, profound fatigue, limb and muscle pain, gastro-intestinal difficulties and dizziness. It is often (but not always) a relapsing illness, characterised by crashes and flare-ups particularly if the sufferer exerts themselves even a fraction too much. Some patients become severely ill and are confined to their homes or beds.

There’s no single test to confirm a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome or long Covid.  Symptoms can mimic those of many other health problems, including:

• Sleep disorders.Chronic fatigue can be caused by sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea, restless legs syndrome or insomnia.
• Medical problems.Fatigue is a common symptom in several medical conditions, such as anaemia, diabetes and underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
• Mental health issues.Fatigue is also a symptom of a variety of mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety

Acupuncture that is based on the traditional East Asian models is well placed to help people with long Covid. Patients with multiple, chronic symptoms are treated using an holistic approach, helping to support their own self-healing capabilities to provide better sustained, overall improvement, rather than focusing on one symptom at a time. This approach will include the effects on the immune system and inflammatory processes, which in turn may have a rôle in treating long Covid, just as they can in preventing infection.