Long COVID
About long COVID
Long COVID is a condition where people continue to experience COVID-19 symptoms usually for at least 3 months from the onset of COVID-19.
Long COVID symptoms will vary from person to person. Symptoms may be worse in some people and can even occur for those who experienced little to no symptoms when they got sick with COVID-19.
People with underlying health conditions, unvaccinated, or hospitalised due to COVID-19 are more likely to have long COVID symptoms.
Most people will recover from long COVID with time, and the recovery rate varies between individuals.
Children and teenagers are less likely to have severe long COVID symptoms. You should talk to their doctor and school to find the best ways to support them while they recover.
There is no single test to confirm a long COVID diagnosis, so it is important that you see your general practitioner if you feel you have long COVID symptoms.
Long COVID is not contagious and is your body responding beyond the initial illness.
The best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated, wear a face mask where needed, stay in well-ventilated spaces, and maintain a physical distance of 1.5m.
Long COVID symptoms
Long COVID may not affect everyone the same way. People with long COVID can have a wide range of symptoms.
Common signs and symptoms include:
shortness of breath
cough
fatigue/exhaustion
concentration/memory issues
changes in mood – anxiety, depression, stress, feelings of guilt
loss of smell or taste
headache
sleep issues
heart pounding/palpitations/racing heart/chest pain
skin rashes
muscle aches and joint pains
worsened symptoms after physical or mental activities.
However, this list may not include every long COVID symptom one experiences. Your symptoms may also have different causes besides long COVID.
More serious effects can include blood clots, weakened blood vessels, organ damage such as heart, lung, kidney, brain disease, and severe mental health issues.
Care for Long COVID
You should see your general practitioner (GP) if you have long COVID symptoms. Your GP will advise on how to manage your symptoms best.
Your GP may refer you to a specialist if you have severe symptoms or have conditions that affect your quality of life.
Most symptoms go away with time and can be managed at home.
If you have recovered from COVID-19 and are experiencing new symptoms 3 months after your initial diagnosis, you should get tested as it may be a new COVID-19 infection.
