Long Covid

What is long COVID?

Long COVID is the medical term given to the continuation of symptoms associated with the COVID-19 virus, that persist for 12 weeks or more. This can otherwise be known as post-COVID syndrome. 

What are the main symptoms of long COVID?

It has been medically proven that symptoms of long COVID include:

• tiredness/fatigue
• shortness of breath
• loss of smell and/or taste
• concentration and/or memory problems
• difficulty sleeping
• joint pain
• heart palpitations
• loss of appetite
• headaches
• diarrhoea
• high temperature
• cough
• sore throat
• appearance of rashes
• dizziness
• pins and needles

The list of symptoms associated with long COVID continues to grow, as the condition is studied more closely.

 

When should someone see a doctor in relation to long COVID symptoms?

If a patient notices that they are still suffering from or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 four weeks or more after first contracting the virus, they should certainly see a doctor with regards to these symptoms, to discuss and review the severity and regularity of any associated long COVID symptoms. 

 

Do severe COVID-19 symptoms influence a person's chances of suffering from long COVID?

Fascinatingly, there have been studies that have shown that patients who experience long COVID symptoms may not have necessarily suffered from severe COVID-19 symptoms when they were first confirmed to have COVID-19. In other words, suffering from long COVID (persisting, long-lasting) symptoms is not linked with the severity of the initial COVID-19.