What is Long COVID?

from LONG COVID ESSENTIALS
a resources series by The Sick Times x Long COVID Justice


Long COVID is a set of health issues after someone has COVID-19. These could be: new health issues, ongoing issues, or worsening of previous symptoms or conditions. Long COVID is a biological disease that affects hundreds of millions of people around the world. It can cause significant disability and can be fatal. It is a continuing health crisis.

Long COVID is an “umbrella” term. This means it can include many symptoms as well as other diseases or medical diagnoses. It can affect all parts of the body. It affects people in all age groups, races and ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations. People with or without prior health issues can develop the disease. It can happen after asymptomatic or mild infection.

For more information about the wide range of Long COVID symptoms, see other resources in this series. A 2024 report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine also has more information.


Scientists are studying how Long COVID occurs. They think these factors play a role:

  • Autoimmunity — COVID-19 could cause the immune system to become overactive and attack your body.
  • Viral persistence — SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19. Pieces of the virus may remain in the body long after acute infection. These pieces aren’t contagious, but can cause symptoms.
  • Viral reactivation — Sometimes a virus can cause other viruses that are dormant (not causing harm) in the body to “wake up,” including Epstein Barr virus, which causes mono.

SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT

There are no cures for Long COVID, but some treatments might help improve certain symptoms, or bring relief or ease. Learning about other chronic diseases that overlap with Long COVID may help you, as there are recognized therapies for many of these diseases.

These overlapping diseases and conditions can include:

RESOURCES

There are many COVID-19 and Long COVID support and advocacy groups that meet online and/or locally.

Other resources include:


Writer: Miles Griffis • Editor: Betsy Ladyzhets • Medical reviewer: Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly


Additional resources & info


Notes

  • This series was published in fall 2024; some information may be subject to change.
  • Although each topic has been reviewed by medical professionals, they are informational resources, not medical adviceAlways talk to your medical providers before trying treatments or symptom management strategies. 
  • Each resource page offers brief information and is not comprehensive. We know there is much more information on each topic we cover, and that there are additional topics not yet addressed in this series.