Post-COVID screening

Please note that the application for post-COVID screening is available only by telephone!
To make an appointment, please call +36 1 489 5200. The examination can be booked even for Saturday!

COVID-19 virus infection has been known since 2020. Some patients can fight off the disease having no symptoms at all, others experience various symptoms during the unforeseeable course of infection. Many patients experience symptoms even 4-6 weeks after acute COVID-19 infection. These symptoms include weariness, fatigue, difficulty breathing, joint pain or chest pain.

Previous studies have reported that late symptoms of the cardiovascular, the respiratory and the nervous system, as well as psychiatric problems were detected after the infection. These symptoms included fast or pounding heartbeat, muscle pain, headache, loss of smell and taste, sleep disorders, problems with concentration and memory, moreover skin rash and hair loss. Although COVID-19 primarily affects the lungs, it can also damage other organs, thus increase the risk of long-term health problems:

• Heart: with the help of diagnostic imaging procedures damage to the heart muscle can be detected even in those patients who only have mild symptoms during the course of the infection. These muscular abnormalities can increase the risk of developing heart failure or other complications related to the heart.
• Lungs: COVID-19 related pneumonia often results in long-term damage to the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs, which are responsible for the process of respiration. This eventually leads to long-term respiratory problems.
• Brain: stroke, increased risk of having seizures and developing Guillain-Barre syndrome were also reported, even in young patients. Guillain-Barre syndrome is a condition that can cause temporary paralysis starting from the lower extremities.
• Blood clots and damage to blood vessels: COVID-19 infection increases the risk of developing blood clots, thus can lead to tissue damage in the heart muscle (myocardial infarction) and in the brain (stroke). A pulmonary embolism may occur due to a blood clot developing in blood vessel.

Prevention of post-COVID syndrome is actually the prevention of acute infection (vaccine, hand hygiene, mask wearing, social distancing during a pandemic). Clinical observations show that acute COVID-19 infection after vaccination causes milder symptoms, making the symptoms of post-COVID syndrome less significant in vaccinated patients.

4-6 weeks after initial recovery from COVID-19 infection a medical examination is recommended. This includes a blood test focusing on changes in markers of kidney and liver function, as well as anomalies in blood clotting. Damage to the heart tissue is identified by a cardiologist using an echocardiograph (ultrasound), and a CT scan of the chest is also taken (without contrast agent) in order to examine the respiratory system. In case of any health concerns arising during the procedures, further examinations may be recommended by the specialist.

Terms and Conditions:

• The earliest appointment can be made 28 days after the first appearance of COVID-19 symptoms/ positive test, if no active symptoms are present

The post-COVID screening includes:

• COVID-19 specific laboratory test
• low-dose CT scan of the chest
• cardiology examination including echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart) performed by a specialist
• SARS-CoV-2 Quant IgG test
• Internal medicinal review

At our Institue, we fully comply with the current regulations in force and implement several protective measures against COVID-19.
For more information about the Patient Safety Protocol at Buda Health Center click HERE.