Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Jul 11, 2024 0:15:41 GMT
Long COVID Basics - Last Updated June 11, 2024
Zero specific mention of masking, ventilation, or other concrete means of prevention. "Just get the shot
That's all you can do " okay, CDC...
Key Points
Long COVID is a serious illness that can result in chronic conditions requiring comprehensive care.
Long COVID can include a wide range of ongoing symptoms and conditions that can last weeks, months, or even years after COVID-19 illness.
Anyone who had a SARS-CoV-2 infection, the virus that causes COVID-19, can experience Long COVID, including children.
COVID-19 vaccination is the best available tool to prevent Long COVID.
Living with Long COVID can be difficult and isolating, especially when there are no immediate answers or solutions.
About Long COVID
Long COVID is defined as a chronic condition that occurs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and is present for at least 3 months. Long COVID includes a wide range of symptoms or conditions that may improve, worsen, or be ongoing.
Anyone can get Long COVID
Long COVID occurs more often in people who had severe COVID-19 illness, but anyone who gets COVID-19 can experience it, including children.
Most people with Long COVID experience symptoms days after first learning they had COVID-19, but some people who later develop Long COVID do not know when they were infected. People can be reinfected with SARS-CoV-2 multiple times. Each time a person is infected with SARS-CoV-2, they have a risk of developing Long COVID. Long COVID symptoms and conditions can emerge, persist, resolve, and reemerge over weeks and months. These symptoms and conditions can range from mild to severe, may require comprehensive care, and can even result in a disability.
While rates of new cases of Long COVID have decreased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it remains a serious public health concern as millions of U.S. adults and children have been affected by Long COVID.
Signs and symptoms
People with Long COVID can have a wide variety of symptoms that can range from mild to severe and may be similar to symptoms from other illnesses. Symptoms can last weeks, months, or years after COVID-19 illness and can emerge, persist, resolve, and reemerge over different lengths of time. Long COVID may not affect everyone the same way. Some people can experience health problems from different types and combinations of symptoms that may:
Be difficult to recognize or diagnose
Require comprehensive care
Result in disability
Fatigue, brain fog, and post-exertional malaise (PEM) are commonly reported symptoms, but more than 200 Long COVID symptoms have been identified.
Other symptoms (Non-comprehensive):
General symptoms
Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life
Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort
Fever
Respiratory and heart symptoms
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Coughing
Chest pain
Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)
Neurological symptoms
Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
Headaches
Sleep problems
Dizziness when you stand up (lightheadedness)
Pins-and-needles feelings
Change in smell or taste
Depression or anxiety
Digestive symptoms
Diarrhea
Stomach pain
Constipation
Other symptoms
Joint or muscle pain
Rash
Changes in menstrual cycles
Symptoms that are hard to explain and manage
Some people with Long COVID have symptoms that are hard to explain or difficult to manage. There is no laboratory test that can determine if your unexplained symptoms are due to Long COVID. People with these unexplained symptoms may sometimes even be misunderstood or experience stigma. This can result in a delay in diagnosis and receiving the appropriate care or treatment. Long COVID treatment is focused on managing symptoms, reducing their impact on daily activities, and improving your quality of life.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you are experiencing symptoms that are hard to explain or that persist, or if you think you or your child has Long COVID.
Complications
Some people, especially those who had severe COVID-19, may experience multi-organ effects or autoimmune conditions lasting weeks, months, or even years after COVID-19 illness. Multi-organ effects can involve many body systems, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, skin, and brain. Symptoms for many of these multi-organ complications are similar to commonly reported Long COVID symptoms. As a result of these effects, people who have had COVID-19 may be more likely to develop new or worsening of health conditions such as:
Diabetes
Heart conditions
Blood clots
Neurological conditions
Who is at risk
While anyone who gets COVID-19 can develop Long COVID, studies have shown that some groups of people are more likely to develop Long COVID than others, including (not a comprehensive list):
Women
Hispanic and Latino people
People who have experienced more severe COVID-19 illness, especially those who were hospitalized or needed intensive care
People with underlying health conditions and adults who are 65 or older
People who did not get a COVID-19 vaccine
Health inequities affect populations at risk for Long COVID
Health inequities from disability, economic, geographic, and other social factors disproportionately affect some groups of people. These inequities can increase the risk of negative health outcomes and impact from Long COVID.
Prevention
CDC emphasizes core strategies to lower health risks from COVID-19, including severe outcomes such as hospitalization and death. Preventing severe outcomes from COVID-19 illness helps prevent Long COVID. Steps you can take to protect yourself and others include:
Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccination.
Practicing good hygiene (practices like handwashing that improve cleanliness)
Taking steps for cleaner air
When you may have a respiratory virus:
Use precautions to prevent spread
Seek healthcare promptly for testing and/or treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness; treatment may help lower your risk of severe illness
Vaccination can prevent Long COVID
Research shows COVID-19 vaccination is the best available tool to prevent Long COVID.
Testing and diagnosis
Long COVID is not one illness. There is no laboratory test that can determine if your symptoms or conditions are due to Long COVID. A positive SARS-CoV-2 test is not required for a Long COVID diagnosis. Your healthcare provider considers a diagnosis of Long COVID based on:
Your health history
If you had a diagnosis of COVID-19 by a positive test, symptoms, or exposure
A health examination
Clinical evaluations and results of routine blood tests, chest X-rays, and electrocardiograms may be normal in someone with Long COVID. People experiencing Long COVID should seek care from a healthcare provider to create a personal medical management plan and improve their symptoms and quality of life. Talk to your healthcare provider if you think you or your child has Long COVID.
Similar conditions
Some people experiencing Long COVID symptoms have symptoms similar to those reported by people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and other poorly understood chronic illnesses that may occur after other infections. These unexplained symptoms or conditions may be misunderstood by healthcare providers, which can result in a delay in diagnosis and people receiving the appropriate care or treatment.
What CDC is doing
CDC is working with other federal agencies to better understand and address the long-term impacts of Long COVID, who gets Long COVID, and why. CDC supports these goals by:
Partnering with state and local jurisdictions
Supporting healthcare providers
Promoting and conducting research
Research
Studies are in progress to learn more about Long COVID and identify further measures to help prevent Long COVID. CDC and partners use multiple approaches to support and conduct research that estimates:
How many people experience Long COVID and why
Which groups of people are disproportionately impacted by Long COVID
How new variants may affect Long COVID
The role that COVID-19 vaccination plays in preventing Long COVID
Each approach helps CDC and its partners better understand Long COVID and how healthcare providers can treat or support patients living with these long-term effects. CDC posts data on Long COVID and provides analyses. The most recent CDC data and analyses on Long COVID can be found on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey. CDC will continue to share information with healthcare providers to help them evaluate and manage these conditions.
Zero specific mention of masking, ventilation, or other concrete means of prevention. "Just get the shot
That's all you can do " okay, CDC...Key Points
Long COVID is a serious illness that can result in chronic conditions requiring comprehensive care.
Long COVID can include a wide range of ongoing symptoms and conditions that can last weeks, months, or even years after COVID-19 illness.
Anyone who had a SARS-CoV-2 infection, the virus that causes COVID-19, can experience Long COVID, including children.
COVID-19 vaccination is the best available tool to prevent Long COVID.
Living with Long COVID can be difficult and isolating, especially when there are no immediate answers or solutions.
About Long COVID
Long COVID is defined as a chronic condition that occurs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and is present for at least 3 months. Long COVID includes a wide range of symptoms or conditions that may improve, worsen, or be ongoing.
Anyone can get Long COVID
Long COVID occurs more often in people who had severe COVID-19 illness, but anyone who gets COVID-19 can experience it, including children.
Most people with Long COVID experience symptoms days after first learning they had COVID-19, but some people who later develop Long COVID do not know when they were infected. People can be reinfected with SARS-CoV-2 multiple times. Each time a person is infected with SARS-CoV-2, they have a risk of developing Long COVID. Long COVID symptoms and conditions can emerge, persist, resolve, and reemerge over weeks and months. These symptoms and conditions can range from mild to severe, may require comprehensive care, and can even result in a disability.
While rates of new cases of Long COVID have decreased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it remains a serious public health concern as millions of U.S. adults and children have been affected by Long COVID.
Signs and symptoms
People with Long COVID can have a wide variety of symptoms that can range from mild to severe and may be similar to symptoms from other illnesses. Symptoms can last weeks, months, or years after COVID-19 illness and can emerge, persist, resolve, and reemerge over different lengths of time. Long COVID may not affect everyone the same way. Some people can experience health problems from different types and combinations of symptoms that may:
Be difficult to recognize or diagnose
Require comprehensive care
Result in disability
Fatigue, brain fog, and post-exertional malaise (PEM) are commonly reported symptoms, but more than 200 Long COVID symptoms have been identified.
Other symptoms (Non-comprehensive):
General symptoms
Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life
Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort
Fever
Respiratory and heart symptoms
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Coughing
Chest pain
Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)
Neurological symptoms
Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
Headaches
Sleep problems
Dizziness when you stand up (lightheadedness)
Pins-and-needles feelings
Change in smell or taste
Depression or anxiety
Digestive symptoms
Diarrhea
Stomach pain
Constipation
Other symptoms
Joint or muscle pain
Rash
Changes in menstrual cycles
Symptoms that are hard to explain and manage
Some people with Long COVID have symptoms that are hard to explain or difficult to manage. There is no laboratory test that can determine if your unexplained symptoms are due to Long COVID. People with these unexplained symptoms may sometimes even be misunderstood or experience stigma. This can result in a delay in diagnosis and receiving the appropriate care or treatment. Long COVID treatment is focused on managing symptoms, reducing their impact on daily activities, and improving your quality of life.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you are experiencing symptoms that are hard to explain or that persist, or if you think you or your child has Long COVID.
Complications
Some people, especially those who had severe COVID-19, may experience multi-organ effects or autoimmune conditions lasting weeks, months, or even years after COVID-19 illness. Multi-organ effects can involve many body systems, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, skin, and brain. Symptoms for many of these multi-organ complications are similar to commonly reported Long COVID symptoms. As a result of these effects, people who have had COVID-19 may be more likely to develop new or worsening of health conditions such as:
Diabetes
Heart conditions
Blood clots
Neurological conditions
Who is at risk
While anyone who gets COVID-19 can develop Long COVID, studies have shown that some groups of people are more likely to develop Long COVID than others, including (not a comprehensive list):
Women
Hispanic and Latino people
People who have experienced more severe COVID-19 illness, especially those who were hospitalized or needed intensive care
People with underlying health conditions and adults who are 65 or older
People who did not get a COVID-19 vaccine
Health inequities affect populations at risk for Long COVID
Health inequities from disability, economic, geographic, and other social factors disproportionately affect some groups of people. These inequities can increase the risk of negative health outcomes and impact from Long COVID.
Prevention
CDC emphasizes core strategies to lower health risks from COVID-19, including severe outcomes such as hospitalization and death. Preventing severe outcomes from COVID-19 illness helps prevent Long COVID. Steps you can take to protect yourself and others include:
Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccination.
Practicing good hygiene (practices like handwashing that improve cleanliness)
Taking steps for cleaner air
When you may have a respiratory virus:
Use precautions to prevent spread
Seek healthcare promptly for testing and/or treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness; treatment may help lower your risk of severe illness
Vaccination can prevent Long COVID
Research shows COVID-19 vaccination is the best available tool to prevent Long COVID.
Testing and diagnosis
Long COVID is not one illness. There is no laboratory test that can determine if your symptoms or conditions are due to Long COVID. A positive SARS-CoV-2 test is not required for a Long COVID diagnosis. Your healthcare provider considers a diagnosis of Long COVID based on:
Your health history
If you had a diagnosis of COVID-19 by a positive test, symptoms, or exposure
A health examination
Clinical evaluations and results of routine blood tests, chest X-rays, and electrocardiograms may be normal in someone with Long COVID. People experiencing Long COVID should seek care from a healthcare provider to create a personal medical management plan and improve their symptoms and quality of life. Talk to your healthcare provider if you think you or your child has Long COVID.
Similar conditions
Some people experiencing Long COVID symptoms have symptoms similar to those reported by people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and other poorly understood chronic illnesses that may occur after other infections. These unexplained symptoms or conditions may be misunderstood by healthcare providers, which can result in a delay in diagnosis and people receiving the appropriate care or treatment.
What CDC is doing
CDC is working with other federal agencies to better understand and address the long-term impacts of Long COVID, who gets Long COVID, and why. CDC supports these goals by:
Partnering with state and local jurisdictions
Supporting healthcare providers
Promoting and conducting research
Research
Studies are in progress to learn more about Long COVID and identify further measures to help prevent Long COVID. CDC and partners use multiple approaches to support and conduct research that estimates:
How many people experience Long COVID and why
Which groups of people are disproportionately impacted by Long COVID
How new variants may affect Long COVID
The role that COVID-19 vaccination plays in preventing Long COVID
Each approach helps CDC and its partners better understand Long COVID and how healthcare providers can treat or support patients living with these long-term effects. CDC posts data on Long COVID and provides analyses. The most recent CDC data and analyses on Long COVID can be found on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey. CDC will continue to share information with healthcare providers to help them evaluate and manage these conditions.