According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—CDC.gov), long Covid or post-Covid conditions are “a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems” about four weeks after a Covid 19 infection. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html [Accessed 06-25-2022]
The CDC has found that people with possible long Covid report the following symptoms:
Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life
Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort (post-exertional malaise)
Fever
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Cough
Chest pain
Fast-beating or pounding heart (heart palpitations)
Difficulty thinking or concentrating (brain fog)
Headache
Sleep problems
Dizziness when standing up (lightheadedness)
Pins-and-needles feelings
Change in smell or taste
Depression or anxiety
Diarrhea
Stomach pain
Joint or muscle pain
Rash
Changes in menstrual cycles
“Some people, especially those who had severe COVID-19, experience multiorgan effects or autoimmune conditions with symptoms lasting weeks or months after COVID-19 illness. Multiorgan effects can involve many body systems, including the heart, lung, kidney, skin, and brain. As a result of these effects, people who have had COVID-19 may be more likely to develop new health conditions such as diabetes, heart conditions, or neurological conditions compared with people who have not had COVID-19.”
The CDC states, “for some people, post-COVID conditions may last months, and potentially years, after COVID-19 illness and may sometimes result in disability.”
According to the CDC:
“Estimates of the proportion of people who had COVID-19 that go on to experience post-COVID conditions can vary:
13.3% at one month or longer after infection
•2.5% at three months or longer, based on self-reporting
•More than 30% at 6 months among patients who were hospitalized”
•
