Long COVID

Long COVID

Subject – Science and Tech

Context – Effects of ‘long COVID’ mapped

Concept –

• ‘Long COVID’ is a term to describe the effects of COVID-19 that continue for weeks or months beyond the initial illness, usually three months from the onset of the symptoms.
• Older people and those who had five or more symptoms in the first week of becoming ill with COVID-19 are more prone to develop ‘long COVID’.
• ‘Long COVID’ symptoms gradually improve over a period of time, but can last for more than 12 months.
• It is also found that ‘long COVID’ was higher among people who are overweight or obese, who smoke, live in deprived areas or had severe COVID illness and needed to be admitted to hospital.
• The common symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, anxiety and depression, palpitations, chest tightness or pain, joint or muscle pain and persistent cough.