People who have had COVID-19 may face immunodeficiency conditions, immunologist Oksana Svitich (Russia) said.

In an interview with Radio Russia, the specialist noted that in almost 100% of cases the coronavirus leads to weakening of the immune system, which makes the patient more vulnerable to other infections and even tumors. Normal immune system in most cases suppresses the growth of tumors in the initial stages, but if the immune system gives weakness, malignant tumors are allowed to develop.

COVID-19 can lead to this kind of immune weakening, according to Svitich. Fortunately, it's a reversible problem, but immune recovery varies among patients. In the most favorable scenario, immunity recovers in 30 to 90 days, but in some cases it can take up to six months to regain immunity. And if the patient has a severe coronavirus infection, the risks to immunity are even higher.

The fact is that in the most severe forms of COVID-19, patients develop an immune system hyperreaction or cytokine storm, which requires taking medications that weaken the immune system, thus delaying immune recovery. If a person encounters even a non-lethal infection during this period, it can provoke a fatal outcome due to a weak immune system.