Thailand Medical Study Reveals Alarming Long COVID Effects in University Students
Thailand Medical News Team Fact checked by:Thailand Medical May 23, 2026 54 minutes ago
Thailand Medical: A new Thailand medical study has raised fresh concerns about the hidden health damage caused by Long COVID among university students, revealing that many young adults continue to suffer from exhaustion, breathing problems, sleep disturbances, and reduced quality of life months after recovering from COVID-19 infections. The findings suggest that the lingering effects of the virus may be quietly disrupting the health, academic performance, and emotional well-being of students even during the later stages of the pandemic.
Thai researchers warn that Long COVID may still be silently affecting student health, sleep, and quality of life months after infection
The study was conducted by
Thailand Medical researchers from the Movement Science and Exercise Research Center-Walailak University (MoveSE-WU) and the Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences at Walailak University in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. Researchers examined 365 Thai undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 23 who had previously contracted COVID-19.
Persistent Fatigue and Respiratory Problems Common
The research found that approximately 7.4 percent of the students met the criteria for Long COVID, meaning symptoms continued for several months following their original infection. Among the affected students, fatigue and weakness emerged as the most common symptoms, affecting nearly 60 percent of Long COVID sufferers.
Persistent coughing was the second most common symptom, reported by more than half of the affected students. Other commonly reported problems included breathing difficulties, headaches, dizziness, chest pain, abdominal pain, muscle aches, and loss of smell or taste.
Researchers also found that sleep disturbances were widespread among students experiencing Long COVID. Nearly 30 percent of affected individuals reported ongoing sleep-related problems that interfered with their daily lives. Overall, poor sleep quality was extremely common across the student population, with almost 64 percent of all participants showing unhealthy sleep patterns.
Mental Health Symptoms Continue to Trouble Students
The study also uncovered troubling levels of mental health symptoms among university students. More than 42 percent of participants showed signs of depression, while over 56 percent experienced anxiety symptoms. Stress-related symptoms were also commonly reported.
Although researchers did not find statistically significant differences in anxiety, stress, or depression scores between students with and without Long COVID, the data still pointed toward a concerning trend of worsening emotional well-being among affected students.
This Medical News report highlights that students suffering from Long COVID recorded noticeably lower quality-of-life scores compared to students who had fully recovered from infection. Researchers warned that persistent exhaustion, sleep disruption, and respiratory symptoms may gradually interfere with concentration, learning ability, social in
teraction, and overall daily functioning.
Unexpected Reproductive Symptoms Raise New Concerns
One of the most surprising findings involved reproductive health complications linked to Long COVID. Among male students with Long COVID, more than 90 percent reported testicular pain and sexual dysfunction. Female students also reported irregular menstrual cycles following COVID-19 infections.
Researchers stressed that these findings require further investigation, but they may indicate that Long COVID affects far more body systems than previously believed.
The study explained that Long COVID is increasingly being linked to multiple biological mechanisms including chronic inflammation, immune system dysregulation, viral persistence, endothelial dysfunction, and mitochondrial damage that affects energy production inside cells. Scientists believe these disruptions may contribute to the wide range of lingering symptoms reported worldwide.
Vaccination Findings Need Careful Interpretation
Researchers also observed that students with Long COVID had often received a higher number of COVID-19 vaccine doses compared to students without Long COVID. However, the scientists strongly emphasized that the findings should not be misunderstood.
The study did not determine the exact timing of vaccinations, infections, or symptom onset, making it impossible to establish any cause-and-effect relationship. Researchers explained that the findings may have been influenced by repeated infections, health-seeking behaviors, or other unknown factors.
Importantly, the researchers reaffirmed that previous studies continue to show that COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses help reduce severe illness and may lower the overall risk of Long COVID.
Universities Urged to Provide Better Support
Researchers said the findings highlight the urgent need for universities and healthcare systems to establish better health monitoring and support programs for students struggling with Long COVID symptoms. Suggested interventions include mental health support, symptom monitoring, rehabilitation services, and academic flexibility for affected students.
The researchers concluded that Long COVID should no longer be viewed as a temporary post-viral condition affecting only older adults. Even young university students who experienced mild COVID-19 infections may continue suffering from physical, neurological, and psychological symptoms months later. The study emphasized that without proper recognition and supportive care, lingering symptoms could negatively affect academic achievement, long-term health, emotional stability, and quality of life among young adults. Researchers also stressed the importance of larger future studies to better understand the long-term consequences of Long COVID in younger populations.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/23/6/687
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
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