Worrying long-term effects of coronavirus identified by Chinese doctors

Chinese medics have warned that patients who recover from coronavirus can suffer several long-term health problems.

A new set of guidelines has been issued by China's National Health Commission, advising doctors of a number of long-term effects of the deadly bug.

It says some patients who survive Covid-19 will go on to require treatment for lung and heart damage, while others may suffer movement problems from muscle loss or psychological disorders.

Most those who fall ill with coronavirus only suffer mild symptoms and should recover with minimal long-term health problems.

However, patients who suffer severe cases of Covid-19 can suffer complications and organ damage such as heart arrhythmia or angina, and in many cases will require aftercare, according to the doctors.

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A new set of guidelines has been issued by China's National Health Commission (People's Hospital of Wuhan Uni)

Official figures suggest that more than 78,000 coronavirus patients have been now been discharged from hospital in China.

The deadly bug is believed to have first jumped from animals to humans in the city of Wuhan at the end of last year, before spreading across China and becoming a global health emergency.

Many coronavirus patients could require significant aftercare (AFP via Getty Images)

Covid-19 can leave patients with long-term complications and organ damage (AFP via Getty Images)

The new advice from China's National Health Commission warns that patients could go on to suffer depression, insomnia, eating disorders and various mental and neurological issues.

Doctors are also advised to look out for muscle wastage, and even the complete loss of limb function.

A separate study, published in the medical journal Kidney International, also warns of a link between Covid-19 and kidney failure.

It found that of 5,449 coronavirus patients tested at the Northwell Health medical facility in Great Neck, New York, one in three of developed severe kidney problems.

Over 14.3% of those patients went on to require dialysis, according to researcher Kenar Jhaveri, Northwell's associate chief of nephrology.

There have also been worrying reports that coronavirus has triggered a Kawasaki-like disease in children, a serious condition that causes high fever, rash, red eyes, and swollen glands.