Long Covid – Symptoms and Testing

The long terms effects of Coronavirus is called ‘Long Covid’. This is essentially a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It can last for many months, and the longer it lasts, the more likely it is to persist.

Most people feel better in a few days to two or three weeks after having had Covid-19. Some do not, and go on to develop Long Covid.

Symptoms of Long Covid

There are lots of symptoms you can have after a Covid-19 infection.

Common Long Covid symptoms include:

Extreme tiredness (not relieved by rest).
Shortness of breath.
Chest pain or tightness.
Problems with memory and concentration (Brain Fog).
Difficulty sleeping (Insomnia)
Palpitations.
Dizziness.
‘Pins and Needles’.
Joint Pain
Depression and Anxiety.
Tinnitus.
Earaches.
Feeling sick.
Diarrhoea.
Stomach aches.
Loss of appetite.
High temperature.
Headaches.
Cough.
Sore throat.
Changes to smell or taste.
Rashes.
There are a number of Long Covid Clinics being set up across the UK and basically, they have few, if any treatment options. Graded Exercise and Pacing has been shown not to work for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Tests for Long Covid

There is no simple blood test for Long Covid, indeed, it is unlikely that there will be and many academic groups have been working for a number of years to find a reliable blood test for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. So far, this has been unsuccessful.

For details of our treatment approaches, please click here.