How to Spot It
Typically, long COVID is what happens when you still display COVID-19-like symptoms long after you have recovered from it.
Dr Morkel explains, “Common symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction but also others, which generally have an impact on everyday functioning. Symptoms may be newly onset, following initial recovery from an acute COVID-19 episode, or persist from the initial illness. They may also fluctuate or relapse over time.”
According to doctors at the WHO, there have been more than 200 different long COVID symptoms reported in patients across the globe. “Given that we’re going into the third year of pandemic conditions, this disease is still relatively new, and we are learning daily as we review the global experience,” says Dr Morkel.
Continuing, she adds, “As an example, recent research has shown that cognitive dysfunction is a far more frequent symptom than previously documented. The most frequent cognitive symptom noted is short-term memory challenges.”
As for how long these symptoms need to persist before they can be described as long COVID, there is no hard and fast rule, but four weeks after a COVID-19 infection is the general consensus.
As we also learn more about long COVID, our treatment plans have become far more targeted and unique for every individual diagnosed with this. This is encouraging for those who currently struggle with symptoms.