About Long COVID
Long COVID is defined as a long-term condition that occurs after having COVID-19 and lasts for at least three months. Long COVID includes a wide range of symptoms or conditions that may improve, worsen, or be ongoing.
Each time a person gets COVID-19, there is a chance they may develop Long COVID. This is one major reason why prevention of COVID-19 is so important.
There is still much to learn about Long COVID. VDH will continue to update this webpage as we learn more.
Who is at Risk
Anyone who gets COVID-19 can get Long COVID, but it occurs more often in:
- People who’ve had severe COVID-19, including those who were hospitalized or needed intensive care
- People with underlying health conditions who are aged 65 and older
- Women
- Hispanic and Latino people
- People who did not get a COVID-19 vaccine
Symptoms & Other Health Effects
Long COVID affects people differently. People with Long COVID can have a wide variety of symptoms. They can last for weeks, months, or years after having COVID-19.
Below is a list of Long COVID symptoms that are most commonly reported. Please note this list does not include all possible symptoms of Long COVID.
- Tiredness or fatigue
- Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
- Headaches
- Loss of or changes in smell and/or taste
- Dizziness upon standing
- Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Cough
- Joint or muscle pain
- Depression or anxiety
- Fever
Some of these symptoms can get worse after physical or mental activities.
Other Complications
Some people, especially those who’ve had severe COVID-19, can also experience new health conditions. These health conditions include diabetes, heart conditions, blood clots, or neurological conditions. If people already have certain health conditions, they can also become worse after a COVID-19 infection.
Diagnosis
Because people experience Long COVID in different ways, there is no one test to diagnose someone with Long COVID. A healthcare provider will look at different factors to determine if someone has Long COVID. This includes:
- Your health history
- If you ever tested positive for COVID-19, had symptoms of COVID-19, or were exposed to COVID-19
- A health examination, which may include other tests
Please note you do not have to have a positive COVID-19 test to get diagnosed with Long COVID.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for Long COVID. If you are having signs and symptoms of Long COVID, talk with a healthcare provider and get evaluated to determine if you have long COVID or another illness.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is currently enrolling people to participate in clinical trials that will study possible treatments for Long COVID through the RECOVER Initiative. People 18 years of age and older who are interested can enroll in these studies.www.recovercovid.org
Prevention
The best way to prevent Long COVID is to take measures to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 infection. This includes:
Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations. Research shows this is the best way to prevent Long COVID. Staying up to date also provides you protection against new variants.
- Improving ventilation to bring fresh air indoors.
- Practicing good hygiene (covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands often)
- When you are sick:
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- Staying home when sick and following recommendations to prevent spreading the virus to others
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- Seeking treatment for COVID-19 if eligible. This can help prevent people with COVID-19 from becoming very sick
Getting Help and Support for Long COVID
If you need help related to Long COVID, VDH’s Care Resource Coordination Program may be able to connect you to local resources. Support may include connecting you to health care, disability resources, food assistance, utilities assistance, and health insurance benefits. For more information, visit VDH’s Care Resource Coordination webpage.
Research Studies
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is currently enrolling people to participate in clinical trials that will evaluate four potential treatments for Long COVID through the RECOVER Initiative. People 18 years of age and older who are interested can enroll.
More Information and Resources
- CDC Long COVID Webpage
- VDH Understanding Long COVID Fact Sheet
- Social Services / Support for People with Long COVID
- Advocacy and Outreach:
- COVID-19 Longhauler Advocacy Project– a non-profit advocacy organization led by patients and volunteers to advance understanding of Long COVID and provide support.
- International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (IACFSME) – a non-profit advocacy and medical organization focused on the care of and research about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).
In its definition, CDC references a report released by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) in June 2024 in which this group provides its definition of Long COVID. The NASEM definition of Long COVID is as follows:
“Long COVID (LC) is an infection-associated chronic condition (IACC) that occurs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and is present for at least 3 months as a continuous, relapsing and remitting, or progressive disease state that affects one or more organ systems.
LC manifests in multiple ways. A complete enumeration of possible signs, symptoms, and diagnosable conditions of LC would have hundreds of entries. Any organ system can be involved, and LC patients can present with
- Single or multiple symptoms, such as shortness of breath, cough, persistent fatigue, post-exertional malaise, difficulty concentrating, memory changes, recurring headache, lightheadedness, fast heart rate, sleep disturbance, problems with taste or smell, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.
- Single or multiple diagnosable conditions, such as interstitial lung disease and hypoxemia, cardiovascular disease and arrhythmias, cognitive impairment, mood disorders, anxiety, migraine, stroke, blood clots, chronic kidney disease, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and other forms of dysautonomia, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), fibromyalgia, connective tissue diseases, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren’s syndrome.
Important Features of LC:
- LC can follow asymptomatic, mild, or severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Previous infections may have been recognized or unrecognized.
- LC can be continuous from the time of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection or can be delayed in onset for weeks or months following what had appeared to be full recovery from acute infection.
- LC can affect children and adults, regardless of health, disability, or socioeconomic status, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, or geographic location.
- LC can exacerbate pre-existing health conditions or present as new conditions.
- LC can range from mild to severe. It can resolve over a period of months or can persist for months or years.
- LC can be diagnosed on clinical grounds. No biomarker currently available demonstrates conclusively the presence of LC.
- LC can impair individuals’ ability to work, attend school, take care of family, and care for themselves. It can have a profound emotional and physical impact on patients and their families and caregivers.”
Regarding treatment of Long COVID, the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation has published 8 clinical guidance documents that cover the following topics:
- Mental health issues
- Neurological issues – those dealing with the nervous system
- Autonomic dysfunction guidance – issues with blood pressure, heart rate, etc.
- Pediatrics guidance
- Cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 – heart-related issues
- Cognitive symptoms guidance – issues related to thinking, reasoning, memory, etc.
- Breathing discomfort guidance – issues related to shortness of breath, ongoing cough, etc.
- Fatigue guidance – issues related to ongoing fatigue with Long COVID
- Long COVID: A Guide for Health Professionals on Providing Medical Evidence for Social Security Disability Claims (ssa.gov)
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM): Long-Term Health Effects of COVID-19: Disability and Function Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection
- Directory of Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and Associations
- Job Accommodation Network (JAN): Practical Guidance for Medical Professionals