Поствирусная астения.

Why do we feel unwell after a viral infection? Post-infectious asthenia or post-viral fatigue. It's extremely unpleasant when the illness has passed, but you still feel unwell. Asthenia is a persistent, constant weakness that occurs even without physical or mental exertion and does not resolve with rest. It accompanies most infectious diseases and occurs in 10-30% of those who have recovered. Sometimes it resolves quickly, but in other cases it can last for months (up to 5-7 months) or even years. Post-COVID asthenia ("long COVID") is not the worst option. For example, with West Nile fever, fatigue lasting more than 6 months is observed in 30% of patients, and for many, it lasts for years. Physical symptoms: muscle weakness, fatigue, exhaustion after minimal effort. Cognitive symptoms: loss of concentration and memory. Emotional: mood swings, irritability, loss of motivation, libido, and confidence, feelings of tension, increased sensitivity to various factors, and sleep disturbances. Sometimes these are various nonspecific complaints: muscle pain, sore throat, etc. This state (sickness behavior) during illness is normal and an evolutionary adaptation. Inflammation of any kind makes us apathetic and weak; we lose our appetite and zest for life, avoid social interactions, and show little interest in anything. This contributes to survival: sick people do not spread the infection and are less likely to be eaten by predators, minimizing calorie expenditure. Unfortunately, asthenia sometimes persists even after the pathogen has disappeared. What are the causes? There are many opinions. Some believe it is a disruption in cellular metabolism and multiple injuries. But most believe the problem is inflammation. Increased proinflammatory activity of the immune system persists for some time after the infection, causing this condition. Other authors clarify that even peripheral inflammation affects brain function, triggering an evolutionary "energy conservation" mechanism. Brain damage includes decreased activity of the serotonin and dopamine systems, as seen in depression. What to do? Some view post-infectious asthenia as a "whim" and urge people to "pull themselves together." Frequent attempts to overcome asthenia by willpower and overexert themselves can lead to a worsening of the condition. Sometimes asthenia serves as a pretext for "overtreatment" and the prescription of numerous unnecessary medications. Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment. It is important to avoid exhaustion and maintain an anti-stress regimen. Maintain a strict sleep, diet, and physical activity schedule with regular breaks, and focus on relaxation techniques. An anti-inflammatory diet (fasting, more vegetables and greens) may also be helpful. Experiments have shown the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory drugs, but there are no reliable studies for humans. Various authors suggest "activation therapy," including antidepressants, adaptogens, and other supplements, such as citrulline, which can improve exercise tolerance. In general, it's wise to focus on pure rest after an illness and then gradually reactivate: gradually increase mental, physical, and emotional activity, avoiding exhaustion. Walk a little more, read a little more, meditate, work, and laugh. Do what recharges you. Productive activity energizes you, and this energy motivates you to take further action. Post-infectious asthenia is an unpleasant but reversible condition. Don't put off recovery; the first two months after an illness are the most crucial.