Long COVID is a condition affecting millions worldwide, emerging after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Officially defined as a chronic condition lasting at least 3 months post-infection, Long COVID encompasses a broad spectrum of symptoms that can fluctuate in severity and duration.
Who Can Get Long COVID?
While anyone infected with COVID-19 can develop Long COVID, it’s more prevalent in individuals who experienced severe initial COVID-19 illness. However, even those with mild or asymptomatic cases can be affected, including children. Reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 increases the risk of developing Long COVID each time, and symptoms can appear days after the initial infection or emerge later, persisting, resolving, and recurring over time. These symptoms vary from mild to debilitating, sometimes requiring extensive medical care and potentially leading to disability. Despite a decrease in new Long COVID cases since the pandemic’s peak, it remains a significant public health concern due to the sheer number of affected individuals.
Identifying Risk Factors for Long COVID
Research indicates certain populations are more susceptible to Long COVID. These include:
- Women
- Hispanic and Latino individuals
- People who had severe COVID-19, especially those hospitalized or in intensive care
- Individuals with pre-existing health conditions and older adults (65+)
- Unvaccinated individuals
Health Disparities and Long COVID Risk
Pre-existing health inequities stemming from disability, economic status, geographic location, and social factors disproportionately impact certain communities, increasing their vulnerability to negative health outcomes and the impact of Long COVID.
Prevention Strategies: Reducing Long COVID Risk
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes core prevention strategies to mitigate COVID-19 health risks, including severe outcomes and subsequently, Long COVID.
Vaccination: A Key Tool in Long COVID Prevention
Studies confirm that COVID-19 vaccination is the most effective tool available to prevent Long COVID, including in children.
The Diagnostic Process for Long COVID
It’s crucial to understand that Long COVID isn’t a single, uniform illness. Currently, there isn’t a specific lab test to definitively diagnose Long COVID. A prior positive SARS-CoV-2 test is not mandatory for a Long Covid Diagnosis. Healthcare providers diagnose Long COVID based on a comprehensive evaluation:
- Health History Review: Your medical history is a critical starting point.
- COVID-19 Diagnosis or Exposure: Evidence of a previous COVID-19 diagnosis through a positive test, reported symptoms, or known exposure to the virus is considered.
- Physical Examination: A thorough physical examination is conducted.
It’s important to note that standard clinical evaluations, including routine blood tests, chest X-rays, and electrocardiograms, might appear normal in individuals with Long COVID. If you suspect you or your child has Long COVID, seeking medical advice from a healthcare provider is essential to develop a personalized management plan to alleviate symptoms and improve your quality of life. Consulting your healthcare provider is the first step in managing Long COVID effectively.
Further Reading: Clinical Overview of Long COVID
Conditions Similar to Long COVID
Some Long COVID symptoms overlap with those reported by individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and other chronic illnesses that can develop post-infection. These unexplained symptoms can be challenging for healthcare providers to understand, potentially leading to delayed diagnosis and appropriate care.
Further Reading: Living with Long COVID
CDC’s Ongoing Efforts to Address Long COVID
The CDC is actively collaborating with federal agencies to enhance the understanding and management of the long-term effects of Long COVID, including identifying who is most affected and the underlying reasons. The CDC supports these objectives through:
- Partnerships with state and local health departments
- Support for healthcare providers in diagnosing and managing Long COVID
- Promoting and conducting ongoing research initiatives
Advancing Research on Long COVID
Ongoing research is vital to deepen our understanding of Long COVID and to develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies. The CDC and its research partners employ various approaches to estimate:
- The prevalence and causes of Long COVID
- Disproportionately affected populations
- The impact of new variants on Long COVID
- The protective role of COVID-19 vaccination against Long COVID
These research efforts enable the CDC and healthcare providers to better understand, treat, and support individuals living with the long-term effects of COVID-19. The CDC regularly publishes data and analyses on Long COVID, with the latest information available on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey. The CDC is committed to continuously sharing updated information with healthcare providers to aid in the evaluation and management of Long COVID.
Further Reading: CDC Science behind Long COVID
