COVID-19 can cause a variety of longer-lasting symptoms such as problems affecting the heart, nervous system and/or lungs and also problems of a psychological nature.
When the symptoms are still present three months after a SARS-CoV-2 infection and they last longer than two months, the condition is known as long COVID or post-COVID syndrome. (The official medical term is “post-COVID-19 condition” but it is commonly referred to as long COVID.)
Typical long COVID symptoms are:
- breathlessness, respiratory distress
- neuropsychological symptoms such as forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating
- headache
- persisting tiredness, fatigue
- quickly becoming exhausted after physical exertion
Other possible late effects of COVID-19:
- impaired senses of taste and smell
- sleep problems
- depressed mood and anxiety
- rapid heartrate, irregular heartbeat
- gastrointestinal symptoms, allergies, intolerances
It is thought that up to 15% of those who catch COVID-19 will go on to develop long COVID. The precise causes of longer-lasting symptoms after COVID-19 are still not clear. The risk is higher after severe illness than after mild illness.
Further information about long COVID and post-COVID syndrome is available in a patient guide produced by AWMF (working group of medical associations), at the info portal from BZgA (longcovid-info.de) and at the Federal Health Ministry’s website gesund.bund.de.
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