An illustration of the Vagus nerve, which is part of the autonomic nervous system. Sebastian Kaulitzki/Science Photo Library RF/Getty Images hide caption
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autoimmune diseases
Researchers looking for root causes of long COVID work in the autopsy suite inside the Clinical Center at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption
Céline Dion performing in 2019, the year her world tour was original scheduled to begin. It has since been delayed repeatedly, first due to the pandemic and then because of muscle spasms that have now been diagnosed as stiff-person syndrome. Rich Fury/Getty Images for NARAS hide caption
Ashton Kutcher attends the Los Angeles premiere of Vengeance on July 25. The actor revealed he dealt with hearing, vision and balance issues as a result of a rare case of vasculitis three years ago. Robin L Marshall/Getty Images hide caption
"Long COVID is characterized by a wide variety of symptoms that persist long after the initial infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus," says Meghan O'Rourke, author of The Invisible Kingdom. Fanatic Studio/Getty Images/Collection Mix: Sub hide caption
How long COVID sheds light on other mysterious (and lonely) chronic illnesses
New clues to the biology of long COVID are starting to emerge
Having a compromised immune system puts you at higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. Studies show that the initial vaccine doses are less effective for people with weakened immune systems. A third shot can boost protection. Christiana Botic/Boston Globe via Getty Images hide caption
Author Sarah Ramey's first book was expected to be among 2020's bestsellers. But it was released the same week as the lockdown and got lost amid news of a global catastrophe. Julius Schlosburg hide caption
When Your Book Publishes In A Pandemic — Authors Talk About Terrible Timing
Jennifer Minhas had been a nurse for years when she contracted COVID-19 in 2020. Since then, lingering symptoms — what's known as long-haul COVID-19 — made it impossible for her to work. For months, she and her doctors struggled to understand what was behind her fatigue and rapid heartbeat, among other symptoms. Tara Pixley for NPR hide caption
Amid the pandemic, Americans are experiencing sleeplessness, headaches, stomach upset and more symptoms of chronic stress. Robin Utrecht/LightRocket via Getty Images hide caption
The serious inflammatory syndrome sending some children and teens to the hospital remains extremely uncommon, doctors say. But if your child spikes a high, persistent fever, and has severe abdominal pain with vomiting that doesn't make them feel better, call your doctor as a precaution. Sally Anscombe/Getty Images hide caption
Mystery Inflammatory Syndrome In Kids And Teens Likely Linked To COVID-19
Health care workers assist a COVID-19 patient in Spain. Some evidence from Europe and China suggests an overzealous immune response may be contributing to the severe illness in some patients. Felipe Dana/AP hide caption
Why Some COVID-19 Patients Crash: The Body's Immune System Might Be To Blame
A scanning electron micrograph shows microglial cells (yellow) ingesting branched oligodendrocyte cells (purple), a process thought to occur in multiple sclerosis. Oligodendrocytes form insulating myelin sheaths around nerve axons in the central nervous system. Dr. John Zajicek/Science Source hide caption
In addition to profound exhaustion that isn't relieved with sleep, the illness now called ME/CFS includes flu-like symptoms, muscle pain, "brain fog" and various other physical symptoms, all of which typically worsen with even minor exertion. Malte Mueller/Getty Images hide caption
Eating: it's what I was born to do apparently! Courtesy of Brandie Jefferson hide caption
Brandie Jefferson Courtesy of Lopestagram/Instagram hide caption
The Old World hookworm is an intestinal parasite. The image above was taken by a scanning electron micrograph and was color-enhanced. The worm's actual size ranges from 0.03 inches to 0.3 inches. David Scharf/Science Source hide caption
Fetal Cells May Protect Mom From Disease Long After The Baby's Born
Psyched that it's finally spring? Shifts in the season may affect more than your mood. Corbis hide caption
Seasons May Tweak Genes That Trigger Some Chronic Diseases
In some human diseases, the wrong mix of bacteria seems to be the trouble. Getty Images hide caption
Streptococcus pyogenes shouldn't be taken lightly. Left untreated, an infection with germ can trigger an autoimmune disease that damages the heart. NIAID/Flickr.com hide caption