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What is Post-COVID syndrome/long COVID?

Emerging evidence and patient testimony is showing a growing number of people who contract COVID-19 cannot shake off the effects of the virus months after initially falling ill. Symptoms are wide-ranging and fluctuating, and can include breathlessness, chronic fatigue, “brain fog”, anxiety and stress.

The long-term effects of COVID-19 are often referred to interchangeably as long COVD and post COVID syndrome. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)/Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network/Royal College of General Practitioners guidance on managing long-term effects of COVID-19 (updated November 2021) gives the following clinical definitions below:

  • ongoing symptomatic COVID-19: signs and symptoms of COVID-19 from four to 12 weeks
  • post COVID-19 syndrome: signs and symptoms that develop during or after COVID-19 and continue for more than 12 weeks and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis.

While we have learned lots about COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic – and new treatments are available – the long term effects of the illness can be debilitating, even for young, fit people, or those who did not go to hospital when they had COVID-19 symptoms initially.

Above wording extracted from https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/post-covid-syndrome-long-covid/

Further useful information/guidance can be found by clicking on the links below.

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