How can I tell if I have Long COVID?

What information can I expect from my healthcare professional?

Healthcare professionals think that whether you develop long COVID is not linked to how severe your COVID-19 was (including whether you were in hospital). Your healthcare professional will give you advice and information on:

• what to expect during your recovery

• symptoms to look out for that would mean you need to be seen again by a healthcare professional

• who to contact if you are worried about:

- any new, continuing or worsening symptoms

- difficulties with everyday activities and routines, including concerns about time off work or education

- symptoms that go on for longer than four weeks after the start of your infection, and how to self-manage your symptoms.

If you are concerned that you still have symptoms or have new symptoms four weeks after the start of COVID-19, you should speak to your healthcare professional.

Your healthcare professional will do the following:

• Offer you a consultation appointment.

• Give you information in a format or language you can understand to help you take part in decisions about your care.

If you do not receive information in a format or language you can understand, you can ask for it.

During your recovery, you will be given a choice to have appointments by telephone, video or in person (where this is possible).

Healthcare professionals do not know if vaccines have any effect on the ongoing symptoms of COVID-19. But your healthcare professional will talk to you about the importance of having them. Vaccines can help to reduce the risk of further infection. You will be given information on who can get a COVID-19 vaccine, how well vaccines work and how safe they are.

You can find more information here: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronaviruscovid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/

Common symptoms of long COVID

Common symptoms of long COVID.

Signs and symptoms after acute COVID-19 can be highly variable and wide ranging. The most commonly reported ones include:

Respiratory symptoms	• Breathlessness • Cough
Cardiovascular symptoms	• Chest tightness • Chest pain • Palpitations
Generalised symptoms	• Fatigue • Fever • Pain
Neurological symptoms	• Cognitive impairment (‘brain fog’, loss of concentration or memory issues) • Headache • Sleep disturbance • Peripheral neuropathy symptoms (pins and needles and numbness) • Dizziness • Delirium (in older populations) • Mobility impairment • Visual disturbance
Gastrointestinal symptoms (digestive system)	• Abdominal pain • Nausea • Diarrhoea • Weight loss and reduced appetite
Musculoskeletal symptoms	• Joint pain • Muscle pain
Psychological/Psychiatric symptoms	• Symptoms of depression • Symptoms of anxiety
Ear, nose and throat symptoms	• Tinnitus • Earache • Sore throat • Dizziness • Loss of taste and/or smell
Dermatological symptoms	• Skin rashes • Hair loss

When will my healthcare professional explore my symptoms further?

Your healthcare professional will explore whether you may have long COVID if:

• you still have symptoms after four weeks, or

• you have new symptoms four weeks after the start of COVID-19

At your first consultation appointment, your healthcare professional will discuss and agree whether you need to have another appointment to assess your condition. They will also agree with you what further assessments will be needed, based on your symptoms.

...actually just the experience of being heard and feeling like somebody got it and was being kind about it... I just kind of needed to know that I wasn’t losing it really and it was real what I was experiencing...

If you need it, you will be supported through your assessment and the care you need, for example by having extra time for your appointment or having an interpreter. Your healthcare professional may ask to include your family or carers in discussions. They will agree this with you.

Children and young people may not have the most commonly reported symptoms. If you have any concerns, please discuss them with your healthcare professional.

The following symptoms are less common in children and young people than adults:

• Shortness of breath.

• Heart palpitations (heartbeats that suddenly become more noticeable).

• Chest pain.

• Persistent cough.

• Fluctuating heart rate.

• Pain when you breathe.

Your healthcare professional will explore whether you may have long COVID if:

• you still have symptoms after four weeks, or

• you have new symptoms four weeks after the start of COVID-19.

At your first consultation appointment, your healthcare professional will discuss and agree with you whether you need to have another appointment to assess your condition. They will also agree with you what further assessments you will need, based on your symptoms.

If you need it, you will be supported through your assessment and the care you need, for example by having extra time for your appointment or having an interpreter. Your healthcare professional may ask to include your family or carers in discussions. They will agree this with you.