Even people who do not develop severe symptoms from the new coronavirus infection may have a weakened immune system, which could lead to serious illness in the future. Research from Örebro University suggests that the coronavirus may have had a wider impact than previously thought.
We were surprised to find that even people who tested positive for COVID-19, although they did not have severe symptoms, appeared to have a weakened immune system and an increased risk of diseases such as glandular fever. It’s also possible that the coronavirus is further increasing the risk of chronic fatigue. ”
Sneguole Wingelien, Medical Epidemiology Researcher, Orebro University
The study followed 10 million Swedish adults aged 3 to 100 from 2020 to 2022. They were divided into groups based on whether they had been infected with the coronavirus and the severity of their infection. The results show a clear link between the coronavirus and subsequent glandular fever. The study also suggests that coronaviruses can make other illnesses worse.
Sneguole Wingelien, along with Professor of Medicine Scott Montgomery and Associate Professor of Medicine Ayako Yasuyoshi, designed the study and conducted the statistical analysis. All three conduct epidemiological research at Örebro University.
Study of 10 million Swedes
“We studied people who were hospitalized with glandular fever caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. However, our results probably only represent the tip of the iceberg, as many people who develop glandular fever do not have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization,” says Sneguole Bingelinė.
More than nine out of 10 Swedes carry Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which can cause glandular fever, but most people do not develop serious symptoms. If infected during childhood, symptoms are usually mild or asymptomatic. About 7 in 10 people infected as adults develop a sore throat, fatigue, and other flu-like symptoms.
“If you’ve had glandular fever, you’re probably aware of it. The disease can result in weeks of sick leave and feelings of fatigue and fatigue that can last for months. Once you’re infected with the virus, it stays in your body for life,” says Snegole-Vingeline.
Potential long-term effects
“The majority of the people we studied were relatively young. This may suggest that the coronavirus has had a stronger impact on young people, especially with regard to the immune system and the risk of glandular fever. It also suggests that further effects of the virus may become apparent later, mainly through an increase in glandular fever cases,” explains Sneguole-Vingeline.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnoses have increased since the pandemic, but we cannot confirm that this is caused by COVID-19. Meanwhile, there are concerns that over the long term, the coronavirus could lead to more people developing MS and other serious neurological diseases.
Although the risks are higher, developing MS is still rare. Less than 1 percent of the population is affected. If you are concerned, please contact health services,” says Sneguole Bingelien.
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Reference magazines:
Vangeline, S. others. (2025). SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with increased risk of infectious mononucleosis due to hospital-treated EBV: a national registry-based cohort study. Journal of Medical Virology. DOI: 10.1002/jmv.70787. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmv.70787
