Long COVID was preliminarily defined as the presence of signs and symptoms that develop during or after a COVID-19 infection and that last for 12 or more weeks.
COVID-19 is typically referred to as acute for up to 4 weeks and as sub-acute for 4 to 12 weeks. 1 in 10 people will experience symptoms for a period of 12 weeks or more.
Long COVID affects people who have been hospitalized with acute COVID-19 and people who have recovered at home. People who have experienced mild or severe COVID-19 may have prolonged symptoms or develop Long COVID.
Long COVID is a multisystem disease; there are more than 200 identified symptoms that occur in varying combinations and can fluctuate in predictable and unpredictable patterns of relapses and remissions.
The most common symptoms after 6 months:
- extreme exhaustion (fatigue)
- exacerbation of post-exercise symptoms (ESP)
- memory and concentration problems (mental fog)
Other common symptoms:
- shortness of breath
- chest pain or tightness
- difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- heart palpitations
- dizziness
- muscle pain
- joint pain
- depression and anxiety
- tinnitus and earache
- nausea
- diarrhoea
- stomach pain
- loss of appetite
- high temperature
- cough
- headache
- sore throat
- changes on smell or taste
- skin rashes
8th September 2021
8, September 2021