Long COVID has been preliminarily defined as the presence of signs and symptoms that develop during or following an infection consistent with COVID-19 which continue for 12 weeks or more. Typically, it is referred to as acute COVID-19 until 4 weeks and ongoing COVID-19 from 4 to 12 weeks.
How common is Long COVID? 1 in 10 of all cases will exhibit symptoms for a period of 12 weeks or longer. Long COVID affects people who have been hospitalised with acute COVID-19 and those who recovered at home. Individuals who have experienced either mild or severe COVID-19 can go on to have prolonged symptoms or develop Long COVID. Many people living with the disease were previously fit and healthy. Children experience Long COVID symptoms similar to adults and at about the same frequency.
Long COVID is a multi-system disease; there are over 200 listed symptoms which occur in variable combinations and can fluctuate in both predictable and unpredictable patterns of flare-ups and remissions.
Most common symptoms after 6 months:
- extreme exhaustion (fatigue)
- post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PESE)
- problems with memory and concentration (brain fog)
