There’s no shortage of news about COVID-19 these days. The challenge becomes sorting through it all to find the most accurate, relevant and necessary information. At Be Well MD, Dr. Carlson and our clinical team receive questions every day on the topic.

What is “long-COVID”?

“Long-COVID,” also referred to as post-acute COVID-19, chronic COVID-19, post-COVID syndrome, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), generally refers to symptoms that develop during or after acute COVID-19 illness, continue for 12 weeks or more, and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis. It is not yet known whether “long-COVID” represents a new syndrome unique to COVID-19 or overlaps with recovery from similar illnesses.

Persistent physical symptoms following acute COVID-19 are common and typically include fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough. Headache, joint pain, insomnia, anxiety, cognitive dysfunction, muscle pain, and diarrhea have also been reported. The time to symptom resolution depends primarily on the risk factors prior to the illness, the severity of the acute illness, and the spectrum of initial symptoms. However, prolonged symptoms are common even in patients with less severe disease who were never hospitalized.

Treatment is supportive in nature. There are no specific therapies available for “long – COVID.”

If you have a question about COVID-19, call us at 512-553-1921.