Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Post COVID-19 condition
28 March 2023 | Q&AMost people who develop COVID-19 fully recover, but current evidence suggests approximately 10–20% of people experience a variety of mid and long-term effects after they recover from their initial illness. Although our current understanding of causes of post COVID-19 condition and why some people are more affected is limited, this questions and answers page will help you understand more about post COVID-19 condition so you can make informed decisions that help protect yourself and those around you.
Post COVID-19 condition, also known as long COVID, refers to long-term symptoms that some people experience after they have had COVID-19. People who experience post COVID-19 condition sometimes refer to themselves as “long-haulers”.
These symptoms might persist from their initial illness or develop after their recovery. They can come and go or relapse over time.
The most common symptoms associated with post COVID-19 condition include fatigue, breathlessness and cognitive dysfunction (for example, confusion, forgetfulness, or a lack of mental focus or clarity). Post COVID-19 condition can affect a person’s ability to perform daily activities such as work or household chores.
Post COVID-19 condition is usually diagnosed by a healthcare provider at least 3 months after a patient falls ill with COVID-19. This 3-month period allows healthcare providers to rule out the usual recovery period from an acute illness. Sometimes this recovery period can be long, especially if someone is very sick.
Symptoms should last for at least 2 months from when someone first falls ill for it to be considered as post COVID-19 condition.
Symptoms of post COVID-19 condition can persist from the initial illness or begin after recovery. The symptoms and effects of post COVID-19 condition can only be explained when other conditions with similar symptoms as post COVID-19 condition have been ruled out through a medical diagnosis. Symptoms may also change over time.
Symptoms differ between people, and between adults and children. Overall, the most common symptoms of post COVID-19 condition include:
- fatigue
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- memory, concentration or sleep problems
- persistent cough
- chest pain
- trouble speaking
- muscle aches
- loss of smell or taste
- depression or anxiety
- fever.
People with post COVID-19 condition, also known as long COVID, may have difficulty functioning in everyday life. Their condition may affect their ability to perform daily activities such as work or household chores.
If you have ongoing symptoms after COVID-19, seek help from your healthcare provider. They will help you to determine the cause and provide you with the care you need to manage your symptoms.
At present, there are no proven drug treatments for post COVID-19 condition. This is an area of active research. However, some commonly available medications can alleviate symptoms. There are data suggesting that holistic care can help patients regain their physical, cognitive and emotional function and help to improve their quality of life.
Anyone can develop post COVID-19 condition. Research suggests that approximately 10–20% of COVID-19 patients go on to develop prolonged symptoms that are associated with post COVID-19 condition. Current evidence doesn’t allow us to confidently know who is more likely to be affected, although certain problems (for example breathlessness) seem to be more common amongst those with more severe initial COVID-19, and more common in women.
According to the WHO definition, symptoms should last two months or more before a diagnosis of post COVID-19 condition can be made, as we know that normal recovery can take this long. It is important that other causes for ongoing symptoms are considered. For more information, see the clinical case definition of post COVID-19 condition.
We cannot predict how long post COVID-19 condition will last for any given person. Most people experience improvement in their symptoms, but we know that lingering symptoms can last from weeks to months. Currently, it remains impossible to predict how long post COVID-19 condition may last for any given person.
Taking measures to avoid COVID-19 infection is the most effective way to protect yourself against post COVID-19 condition. This includes public health and social measures that reduce your chances of getting infected. To keep you and your family safe remember to:
- continue to wash your hands regularly
- keep a distance from others
- wear a mask when in a crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated area
- get vaccinated and stay up to date with booster doses
- practice respiratory etiquette; cough or sneeze into your bent elbow.
Research is ongoing. A vaccine’s ability to prevent post COVID-19 condition depends on its ability to prevent COVID-19 in the first place. The vaccines we use today are aimed at preventing severe disease and death from COVID-19. However, some people may still get infected with COVID-19 even after they are vaccinated.
No, post COVID-19 condition cannot be passed to others.
WHO expert group which includes patients, healthcare workers and researchers has been considering the impact of post-COVID-19 condition on children and adolescents. Findings of this report can be found here. A free webinar is available for more information: Post COVID-19 Condition: Children and Young Persons (who.int)
Young children with COVID-19 mainly present with respiratory symptoms and are more likely to seek long-term medical care for a persistent cough. Children with post COVID-19 condition are also more likely to have fatigue, altered smell and anxiety than healthy children.