Long COVID

Long COVID is the name given to the long-term symptoms that some people get after having COVID-19. It's also called 'post-COVID-19 condition' or 'post-acute sequelae of COVID-19' (PASC).

Long COVID is a chronic (ongoing) condition that can affect many body systems. People with long COVID often have varied symptoms.

Most people recover from COVID-19 after a few days or weeks. But with long COVID, you may have symptoms for weeks or months.

Long COVID affects people of all ages. You can develop it even if your COVID-19 infection was mild.

Having long COVID can affect your ability to live your life normally and do your usual daily activities.

Health experts are still learning about this condition.

Your long COVID symptoms may:

• range from mild to severe
• be ongoing or only happen sometimes
• change or worsen

You may have one symptom or many symptoms of long COVID. So far, more than 200 symptoms of long COVID have been reported. The most common symptoms are listed below.

General symptoms of long COVID are:

• fatigue (tiredness)
• weakness
• post-exertional malaise (worsening of symptoms after physical or mental activity)
• rash
• pain

Respiratory (lung) symptoms of long COVID are:

• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• ongoing cough
• chest pain or discomfort

Cardiovascular (heart) symptoms of long COVID are:

• chest tightness
• heart palpitations (racing or pounding heart)
• symptoms of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)

Neurological (nervous system) symptoms of long COVID are:

• memory loss
• difficulty concentrating or brain fog
• loss of smell or taste
• headaches

Gastrointestinal (stomach and bowel) symptoms of long COVID are:

• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• abdominal (tummy) pain
• nausea and vomiting
• heartburn

Mental health symptoms of long COVID are:

• anxiety
• depression
• insomnia (sleep problems)
• psychosis

Other frequently reported symptoms include muscle pain, muscle weakness and kidney problems.

It's not fully understood what causes long COVID.

Research suggests that long COVID is caused by SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) staying in your body after you are infected with COVID-19. This may cause your immune system to stop working normally.

You may be more likely to develop long COVID if you:

• are older
• are female
• come from a culturally and linguistically diverse background
• live with overweight or underweight
• were treated for COVID-19 in hospital
• have other conditions — such as anxiety, depression, asthma, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes or problems with your immune system
• have heart problems — such as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease or heart failure

You should see your doctor if you've had symptoms of COVID-19 for 4 weeks or more and you are worried.

Get urgent medical attention if you have any new symptoms, such as:

• sudden chest pain or tightness
• difficulty breathing
• confusion
• seizures
• fainting or collapse
• rapid heart rate that doesn't settle with rest
• worsening anxiety or mood, or thoughts of harming yourself

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and your medical history. They may also examine you and check your blood pressure and heart rate.

Your doctor may arrange tests, such as:

• blood tests
• exercise tests — including a one-minute sit-to-stand test
• x-rays
• lung function tests
• an electrocardiogram (ECG)

There is no single test that can diagnose long COVID.

There is no single treatment for long COVID.

Your doctor can explain how to look after yourself and what to expect as you get better. You may want to book regular appointments with your doctor. This will give you a chance to talk about your symptoms and how best to manage them.

If your symptoms are impacting your life, your doctor may refer you to a specialist or allied health professional.

Depending on your symptoms, this may include:

• a respiratory specialist (a doctor who specialises in lungs and breathing)
• a cardiologist (a heart doctor)
• a physiotherapist
• an occupational therapist
• a dietitian
• a speech pathologist
• a psychologist

Your doctor can organise a Mental Health Treatment Plan or a Chronic Disease Management Plan if you need it. These plans can help you get Medicare-subsidised allied health services.

Self-care at home

Here are some things you can do to support your recovery:

• Eat a healthy diet.
• Stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
• Keep your social connections — reach out to family and friends.
• Practise mindfulness techniques such as breathing exercises and meditation.
• Quit smoking or vaping.
• Reduce how much alcohol you drink.

There are currently no recommended medicines for the treatment of long COVID.

Other treatment options

Some treatments that are showing positive results for people with long COVID are:

• physical activity
• inspiratory muscle training and pulmonary rehabilitation (types of breathing exercises)
• hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• physical and mental health rehabilitation programs

You may need an individual approach to exercise. This is especially true if you experience post-exertional malaise (your symptoms get worse after physical or mental exertion).

It's important to connect with the right healthcare professionals who can help you manage your condition. Your doctor will help you create a plan to monitor and manage your symptoms.

Most people with long COVID will improve over time.

Managing your symptoms

Long COVID may cause you to feel weak and tired after just a small amount of physical activity. You may also struggle to concentrate and process information as usual.

To manage these symptoms, follow the 3 Ps — pace, plan, prioritise.

1. Pace — save your energy by breaking up your daily activities into smaller, more manageable tasks. Rest often.
2. Plan — spread activities that need more energy, such as gardening, food shopping and laundry, across the whole week. Plan for plenty of rest in between these tasks. If possible, ask family members or friends to help you. Consider other options like grocery delivery services.
3. Prioritise — if fatigue is a problem, only do essential tasks and activities. If possible, ask a family member or friend to help with these tasks.

Returning to work

Long COVID may affect your ability to work as usual. It's important to talk with your employer about your workload.

Some things you may want to talk about are:

• a phased return to work — slowly increasing your hours over time
• a flexible working arrangement — this might be working when you have more energy, reducing your hours, or working from home
• reviewing your work responsibilities and delegating tasks to other members of your team
• options for changing roles within your organisation if you can't do your current role

These changes can help to make sure that work is not causing you to become more unwell.

Common complications of long COVID are:

• anxiety
• depression
• post-traumatic stress disorder

These complications may be from having long COVID or the stress of living with a chronic illness.

Your doctor can refer you to a psychologist or suggest medicines to help manage your symptoms.

The best way to prevent long COVID is to protect yourself against COVID-19. You can do this by:

• staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations
• wearing a mask
• practising good hygiene and hand washing
• physical distancing

Physical distancing means:

• keeping 1.5 metres away from others when possible
• avoiding handshaking, hugs, kisses and other physical greetings
• avoiding crowds and large gatherings

Use our guided search feature to find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic near you.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has a post-COVID-19 symptoms diary (Opens in new tab). Filling this out will help you and your doctor keep track of your symptoms.

Download the Lung Foundation Australia's booklet — Understanding long COVID (Opens in new tab) — with information to help you navigate your long COVID journey.

Speak with your doctor about attending a long COVID-19 program or clinic in your area.

The Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia has information on long COVID (Opens in new tab) for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Languages other than English

Health Translations Victoria has a video on long COVID (Opens in new tab) which you can watch in English and other languages.

The Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health has resources on long COVID (Opens in new tab) in many community languages.