Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 24, 2026 58 minutes ago
Medical News: A growing number of scientists are becoming increasingly concerned that mild COVID-19 infections may be quietly triggering a hidden global surge in fibromyalgia-like illness. A major new scientific review has found mounting evidence that many people who recover from seemingly non-serious COVID-19 infections later develop chronic pain, exhaustion, brain fog, sleep disturbances, and other debilitating symptoms strongly resembling fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Researchers warn that even mild COVID infections may trigger long-lasting fibromyalgia-like pain and fatigue syndromes
in some individuals
The study was conducted by researchers from the Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences at the University of Nicosia Medical School in Cyprus.
Long COVID Symptoms Closely Resemble Fibromyalgia
The extensive review analyzed 228 scientific records and studies focusing on individuals who developed long-term symptoms after non-hospitalized COVID-19 infections. Researchers found that many patients who initially experienced only mild illness later went on to develop persistent health problems that overlap heavily with fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition associated with widespread body pain, severe fatigue, sleep problems, mood issues, and cognitive difficulties often described as “brain fog.” The exact cause of the disorder has puzzled doctors for decades.
The review found that many Long COVID sufferers reported symptoms such as generalized muscle pain, joint aches, exhaustion after physical activity, dizziness, headaches, anxiety, depression, and concentration difficulties. In several studies, patients even met the official diagnostic criteria used for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
One Swedish study cited in the review found that many previously healthy individuals who had mild COVID infections later fulfilled the 2016 diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia. Researchers noted that these patients often continued suffering from persistent pain and fatigue long after recovering from the initial infection.
Mild Infections Can Still Lead to Severe Long-Term Problems
One of the most alarming findings was that hospitalization was not required for serious long-term complications to emerge. Many individuals who never needed medical treatment for acute COVID later developed disabling chronic symptoms.
A large nationwide study from Denmark involving more than 130,000 non-hospitalized COVID survivors found that over 5 percent developed new widespread musculoskeletal pain roughly 14 months after infection. More than three-quarters of those affected described the pain as moderate to severe.
Researchers identified several possible risk factors for developing chronic pain after COVID infection. Women appeared to face higher risks, along with individuals who had higher body mass index, migraines, stress-related disorders, diabetes, or neurological conditions before infection.
Scientists Struggle to Explain the Biological Mechanisms
Although evidence linking Long COVID to fibromyalgia-lik
e illness continues to grow, researchers admit they still do not fully understand what is happening inside the body.
The review uncovered numerous competing theories regarding the biological causes of Long COVID and post-COVID fibromyalgia symptoms. Some scientists suspect lingering viral particles may persist in tissues long after infection. Others believe the virus may trigger immune system dysfunction, nervous system inflammation, blood vessel damage, hormonal imbalances, or metabolic abnormalities inside muscles.
Some studies found evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction, abnormal immune signaling, and possible small nerve fiber damage. Others identified muscle tissue abnormalities and unusual protein deposits following exertion in Long COVID patients.
However, no single theory currently explains all cases.
This
Medical News report highlights that the researchers also discovered major inconsistencies in how Long COVID is defined across studies. Different scientists used different diagnostic rules, questionnaires, and symptom classifications, creating confusion and making it difficult to accurately estimate how widespread the problem truly is.
Fibromyalgia Remains Deeply Controversial
Fibromyalgia itself remains one of medicine’s most debated chronic illnesses. While many experts believe the condition involves abnormal pain processing in the brain and nervous system, others argue there may be deeper biological problems involving connective tissues, immune dysfunction, muscles, or chronic inflammation.
Standard medical tests often appear normal in both fibromyalgia and Long COVID patients, adding further controversy and frustration for sufferers seeking treatment.
The new review suggests that studying Long COVID may eventually help researchers finally uncover the biological roots of fibromyalgia and related chronic pain disorders.
Conclusions
The researchers concluded that Long COVID and fibromyalgia share striking similarities, especially in patients who develop widespread chronic pain and severe fatigue after mild COVID infections. However, the exact biological mechanisms remain unclear and highly controversial. The authors emphasized the urgent need for standardized definitions, better-designed large-scale studies, and more rigorous investigations into immune dysfunction, neurological abnormalities, and connective tissue involvement. Without clearer answers, healthcare systems worldwide may face a growing hidden burden of chronic pain and disability linked to post-COVID illness.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed Journal of Translational Medicine.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12967-026-08145-7
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Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
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