- Acute Flaccid Myelitis
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Arteriovenous Malformations
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Back Pain
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Tumors
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Childhood Brain Tumors
- Delirium
- Dementia
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- Ischemic Stroke
- Memory
- Meningitis
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Movement Disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuroblastoma
- Neuromuscular Disorders
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome
- Speech and Language Problems in Children
- Stroke
- Transient Ischemic Attack
- Tremor
- Walking Problems
- West Nile Virus
- A1C
- Blood Glucose
- Diabetes
- Diabetes and Pregnancy
- Diabetes Complications
- Diabetes in Children and Teens
- Diabetes Medicines
- Diabetes Type 1
- Diabetes Type 2
- Diabetic Diet
- Diabetic Eye Problems
- Diabetic Foot
- Diabetic Heart Disease
- Diabetic Kidney Problems
- Diabetic Nerve Problems
- How to Prevent Diabetes
- Hyperglycemia
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Prediabetes
- Abortion
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Diseases
- Breast Reconstruction
- Breastfeeding
- Cervical Cancer
- Cervical Cancer Screening
- Cesarean Delivery
- Childbirth
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Endometriosis
- Female Infertility
- Health Problems in Pregnancy
- High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy
- HIV and Pregnancy
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- HPV
- Hysterectomy
- Infections and Pregnancy
- Mammography
- Mastectomy
- Menopause
- Menstruation
- Miscarriage
- Ovarian Cancer
- Ovarian Cysts
- Ovarian Disorders
- Pelvic Floor Disorders
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Pelvic Pain
- Period Pain
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy and Drug Use
- Pregnancy and Opioids
- Premenstrual Syndrome
- Prenatal Care
- Prenatal Testing
- Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
- Sexual Problems in Women
- Stillbirth
- Teenage Pregnancy
- Trichomoniasis
- Tubal Ligation
- Uterine Cancer
- Uterine Diseases
- Uterine Fibroids
- Vaginal Bleeding
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- Vaginal Diseases
- Vaginitis
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- Yeast Infections
- Alcohol
- Calcium
- Child Nutrition
- Cholesterol
- Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know
- Cholesterol Medicines
- DASH Eating Plan
- Eating Disorders
- Food Allergy
- HDL: The “Good” Cholesterol
- High Cholesterol in Children and Teens
- How to Lower Cholesterol
- How to Lower Cholesterol with Diet
- Infant and Newborn Nutrition
- LDL: The “Bad” Cholesterol
- Malabsorption Syndromes
- Nutrition for Older Adults
- Pregnancy and Nutrition
- Toddler Nutrition
- Triglycerides
- VLDL Cholesterol
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
- Ataxia Telangiectasia
- Brain Malformations
- Cerebral Palsy
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- Cryptosporidiosis
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- HIV and Infections
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- Vaccines
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- Adhesions
- Ankle Injuries and Disorders
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- Concussion
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- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dislocations
- Elbow Injuries and Disorders
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- Facial Injuries and Disorders
- Finger Injuries and Disorders
- Foot Injuries and Disorders
- Fractures
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- Heel Injuries and Disorders
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- Inhalation Injuries
- Insect Bites and Stings
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- Traumatic Brain Injury
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- Acute Bronchitis
- Bird Flu
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- Croup
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- Anatomy
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- Male Infertility
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- Prostate Cancer
- Prostate Cancer Screening
- Prostate Diseases
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- Sexual Health
- Sexual Problems in Men
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- Syphilis
- Testicular Cancer
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- Abdominal Pain
- Bad Breath
- Bleeding
- Breathing Problems
- Bruises
- Chest Pain
- Choking
- Chronic Pain
- Constipation
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness and Vertigo
- Edema
- Fainting
- Fever
- Frostbite
- Gas
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Heat Illness
- Hives
- Hypothermia
- Indigestion
- Itching
- Jaundice
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Pain
- Rare Diseases
- Raynaud’s Disease
- Sciatica
- Speech and Communication Disorders
- Stuttering
Post-COVID Conditions (Long COVID)
Summary
What are post-COVID conditions (long COVID)?
COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is an illness caused by a virus. Many people get better within a few days or weeks after being infected with the virus. But others have post-COVID conditions. They may:
- Have symptoms that linger for weeks, months, or even years
- Seem to recover from COVID-19 but then see their symptoms return
- Develop new symptoms or new health conditions within a few months of having COVID-19
There are several other names for post-COVID conditions. It is often called long COVID. But it can also be called long-haul COVID, long-term effects of COVID, chronic COVID, post-acute COVID-19, and post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC).
Who is more likely to develop post-COVID conditions (long COVID)?
Anyone who had COVID-19, whether it was severe or mild, can have long-lasting symptoms. But you are at higher risk of post-COVID conditions if you:
- Had severe COVID-19 illness, especially if you were hospitalized or needed intensive care.
- Had underlying health conditions before you got COVID-19.
- Did not get a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Had multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) during or after COVID-19. MIS is a rare but serious condition in which different body parts become inflamed.
What are the symptoms of post-COVID conditions (long COVID)?
Post-COVID conditions do not affect everyone the same way. They can cause various types and combinations of symptoms in different people. The symptoms may affect different parts of the body, for example:
- General symptoms, such as fatigue and fever
- Respiratory symptoms, such as trouble breathing and cough
- Heart symptoms, such as chest pain and palpitations
- Neurologic symptoms such as trouble thinking and concentrating (“brain fog”), headaches, and sleep problems
- Digestive symptoms such as diarrhea and stomach pain
Some people may have a wide variety of symptoms that are similar to those of other conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Most people’s symptoms slowly improve over time. But for some people, the symptoms can last weeks, months, or longer. Sometimes the symptoms are severe enough to result in disability.
How are post-COVID conditions (long COVID) diagnosed?
There is no specific test for post-COVID conditions. To find out if you have a post-COVID condition, your provider:
- Will ask about your medical history. This includes asking if you have had a diagnosis of COVID-19, either based on a positive test, symptoms, or exposure.
- Will do a physical exam.
- May order blood and imaging tests.
Some of symptoms of post-COVID conditions may be hard to explain. The results of blood and imaging tests may be normal. And people who have unexplained symptoms may sometimes be misunderstood by their providers. So it can take some time to get a diagnosis.
What are the treatments for post-COVID conditions (long COVID)?
There is no specific treatment for post-COVID conditions yet. You and your provider can work together to create a personal care plan to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Can post-COVID conditions (long COVID) be prevented?
The best way to prevent post-COVID conditions is to avoid getting COVID-19. Staying up to date with vaccines (including boosters) against COVID-19 can help prevent COVID-19 infection and protect against severe illness.
Related Issues
- Caring for People with Post-COVID Conditions Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Patient Tips: Healthcare Provider Appointments for Post-COVID Conditions Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Post-COVID Conditions (Long COVID) National Institutes of Health
Specifics
- COVID-19: Long-Term Effects Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Do You Have Post COVID-19 Condition? Pan American Health Organization
- Long COVID: Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Understanding Long COVID National Institutes of Health
- What Are Possible Long-Term Neurological Complications of COVID-19? National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- What Is Long COVID? Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery
Statistics and Research
- Find RECOVER Study Sites Across the Country Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery
Start Here
- Long COVID National Institutes of Health
- Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Encyclopedia
- Long COVID Medical Encyclopedia
Children
- Long-Haul COVID-19 in Children and Teens American Academy of Pediatrics