  SARS-CoV-2, the highly contagious pathogen responsible for the COVID-19
pandemic, has persistent effects that begin four weeks after initial infection
and last for an undetermined duration. These chronic effects are more harmful
than acute ones. This review explores the long-term impact of the virus on
various human organs, including the pulmonary, cardiovascular, neurological,
reproductive, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, endocrine, and lymphoid
systems, particularly in older adults. Regarding diagnosis, RT-PCR is the gold
standard for detecting COVID-19, though it requires specialized equipment,
skilled personnel, and considerable time to produce results. To address these
limitations, artificial intelligence in imaging and microfluidics technologies
offers promising alternatives for diagnosing COVID-19 efficiently.
Pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies are effective in mitigating
the persistent impacts of COVID-19. These strategies enhance immunity in
post-COVID-19 patients by reducing cytokine release syndrome, improving T cell
response, and increasing the circulation of activated natural killer and CD8 T
cells in blood and tissues. This, in turn, alleviates symptoms such as fever,
nausea, fatigue, muscle weakness, and pain. Vaccines, including inactivated
viral, live attenuated viral, protein subunit, viral vectored, mRNA, DNA, and
nanoparticle vaccines, significantly reduce the adverse long-term effects of
the virus. However, no vaccine has been reported to provide lifetime protection
against COVID-19. Consequently, protective measures such as physical
distancing, mask usage, and hand hygiene remain essential strategies. This
review offers a comprehensive understanding of the persistent effects of
COVID-19 on individuals of varying ages, along with insights into diagnosis,
treatment, vaccination, and future preventative measures against the spread of
SARS-CoV-2.
