# Lingering lung disorders 5 years post-COVID: Here's what to know

## Some patients require lung transplants years after recovering from infection, doctors say

### By  

Published March 8, 2025 4:30am EST

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The  engulfed the U.S. five years ago this month, leaving not only lingering mental health effects but also long-term physical symptoms.

One of those included a condition known as post-COVID pulmonary fibrosis, which involves scarring of the lungs that can worsen over time and may require a lung transplant, according to pulmonologists.

React 19 co-chair Brianne Dressen discusses a study investigating the post-vaccination issues linked to the coronavirus vaccine.

The inflammatory response sparked by early mutations of the novel coronavirus led to scarring of lungs in many individuals.

## Pastor Benjamin Thomas' Story

A pastor in his mid-50s who was infected with COVID-19 in March 2020 was discharged in July 2020 with an oxygen tank. Despite overcoming the initial infection, Thomas' condition deteriorated.

In 2022, the pastor noticed that his daily activity tolerance diminished dramatically and he required more oxygen for simple tasks.

The inflammatory response sparked by early mutations of the  led to scarring of lungs in many individuals.

Risk factors for post-COVID pulmonary fibrosis typically include an underlying chronic condition, older age, and the use of mechanical ventilation during the acute phase of COVID.

Testing for this condition is relatively non-invasive, typically including a cat scan or X-ray to check for structural lung damage, as well as blood tests and a pulmonary function test, the doctor told Fox News Digital.

Not everyone infected with COVID will develop pulmonary fibrosis, and the condition can vary in severity and recovery, the lung specialist noted.

In some cases, a person may have been susceptible to developing lung fibrosis due to an underlying condition and the  may accelerate the fibrotic progression.

## Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Symptoms of post-COVID pulmonary fibrosis can mimic other types of interstitial lung diseases, which are disorders that cause progressive scarring and inflammation of lung tissue.

If a person who previously had a COVID infection continues to experience shortness of breath, chronic cough, and change in their  — or if they smoke or have an underlying condition such as emphysema — they should see their physician or a pulmonologist, according to Scheinin.

Testing for this condition is relatively non-invasive, typically including a cat scan or X-ray to check for structural lung damage, as well as blood tests and a pulmonary function test, the doctor told Fox News Digital.

Not everyone infected with COVID will develop pulmonary fibrosis, and the condition can vary in severity and recovery, the lung specialist noted.

In some cases, a person may have been susceptible to developing lung fibrosis due to an underlying condition and the  may accelerate the fibrotic progression.

This could lead to future issues, especially if the patient is exposed to other .

The flu and any other illness would be exacerbated because of the underlying scarring of the lung, Scheinin said. "I think it just makes the lungs more susceptible to injury."

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