Doctor Nguyen Hua Quang, the Head of the Division of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine at the Da Nang General Hospital, said that the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 10-20% of people are experiencing new or lingering symptoms three months after infection.

If you have had COVID-19, here’s what you should know about long COVID symptoms and care.

Most people recover from COVID-19 infection within weeks, but a percentage of individuals (including children and otherwise healthy people) experience symptoms for longer than four weeks. The virus can damage the lungs, heart, kidney, skin and brain, which may increase the risk of long-term health problems. Even people who did not have symptoms when they were infected can have post-COVID conditions. Most with long COVID-19 do seem to get better over time without treatment but it can be hard to stay hopeful when you have been dealing with chronic, disruptive symptoms for months. Long COVID does not look the same in everyone.

Post COVID-19 condition occurs in individuals with a history of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, usually 3 months from the onset of COVID-19 with symptoms that last for at least 2 months, and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis. Common symptoms include fatigue, breathlessness or shortness of breath, difficulty sleeping, persistent cough, joint or muscle pain, not being able to think straight or focus (‘brain fog’), headache, depression or anxiety. Symptoms may be new onset, following initial recovery from an acute COVID-19 episode, or persist from the initial illness. Symptoms may also fluctuate or relapse over time.

While there is no diagnostic test for long COVID-19, it is very important to seek medical care if you are experiencing symptoms like this. You should pay attention to how the condition is manifesting for you and whether that is inflammation, headaches, gastrointestinal symptoms, allergic responses, sleep disturbances, and more. From there, you can look for healthcare providers and treatments based on those specific symptoms.

Long COVID-19 can crop up even in people who had a very mild case of the virus, so having a relatively easy bout of COVID-19 is not a reason to discount your symptoms. Long COVID-19 can also develop in patients with underlying health conditions and those who had long hospitalizations. Health checks are recommended for such patients after being recovered from the illness, and they should see their doctors 4 weeks after the infection has gone as their underlying diseases may worsen after being infected with COVID-19.

Patients aged 60 years and older, those with underlying diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular, chronic kidney, and alcoholism, those who had long hospitalizations, those who presented acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19, those who required intensive care for COVID-19, along with people with more than five symptoms during the first week of a SARS-CoV-2 infection are at higher risk of long COVID.

The Da Nang General Hospital has set up a post-COVID clinic where patients will be examined by doctors and they will be required to undergo necessary health tests based on their specific symptoms.

Long COVID patients should give themselves a break both physically and metaphorically. Taking care of yourself as best as possible could help you to manage your symptoms. You should make an effort to slow down and listen to your body while you are healing. You should rest before you become exhausted, stop doing things that make you feel breathless, try to gradually increase the amount of exercise you do. In addition, you should have a daily routine that can be good for your mood and sense of stability as well as stay active that will help release endorphins and improve your mood.

Reporting by THANH TINH – translating by H.L