Long COVID
Symptoms that hang around for months after COVID-19, from fatigue and brain fog to breathlessness. Real, common, and most people slowly improve.
Quick answer: Long COVID (post COVID-19 condition) is when symptoms start within 3 months of COVID-19 and last at least 2 months with no other explanation. The WHO estimates about 6 in 100 people with COVID develop it. Fatigue, breathlessness, brain fog and post-exertional malaise are common. There’s no single cure; pacing, rehabilitation and treating individual symptoms help, and most people improve over months.
How common. About 6 in 100 people who had COVID-19 develop it, though estimates vary and the chance may be lower with newer variants. Symptoms generally improve over 4 to 9 months; about 15 in 100 people with long COVID still had symptoms at 12 months.
Who’s at higher risk. Women, older adults, smokers, people who are overweight, people with existing chronic conditions, people who had severe COVID, and people who’ve had repeated infections. Vaccination appears to lower the risk.
Symptoms. More than 200 have been reported. Common ones:
- fatigue and weakness
- breathlessness or ongoing cough
- brain fog, poor memory and concentration
- muscle or joint aches, headaches
- palpitations, dizziness on standing (sometimes POTS)
- changes to smell or taste
- poor sleep, low mood or anxiety
Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is a crash in symptoms hours to days after physical or mental effort. If you have it, pushing through can make things worse.
How it’s diagnosed. By your history, once other causes are ruled out. Your GP may check blood tests (for example iron, thyroid, blood count) and other tests depending on your symptoms. There’s no single test for long COVID.
Treatment
There’s no specific medicine for long COVID yet. Care is tailored to your symptoms, and rehabilitation helps many people.
- Step 1 · Self-carePace, plan, prioritiseBreak tasks into smaller pieces, rest before you’re exhausted, spread demanding jobs across the week, and drop what isn’t essential.
- Works
- Helps avoid crashes and lets energy slowly recover
- Access
- Free
- Watch for
- During a flare, cut back and don’t return to usual activity until it’s fully settled.
- Step 2 · GPCheck for treatable causesYour GP looks for other or new problems, such as anaemia, thyroid problems, heart or lung issues, sleep problems or depression.
- Works
- New conditions like these often have proven treatments
- Access
- GP
- Watch for
- Seek help early if symptoms are getting worse, not better.
- Step 3 · Allied healthRehabilitationPhysiotherapy, breathing exercises, occupational therapy or pulmonary rehab, adjusted to your energy limits.
- Works
- Can improve many symptoms and daily function
- Access
- Allied health; GP chronic disease plan may help with costs
- Watch for
- Exercise should be carefully increased; stop if you get post-exertional malaise.
- Step 4 · PrescriptionMedicines for specific symptomsSuch as treatment for headaches, sleep problems, mood or POTS, as needed.
- Works
- Helps the targeted symptom
- Access
- GP prescription
- Watch for
- No medicine is currently recommended specifically for long COVID.
- Step 5 · SpecialistLong COVID or specialist clinicFor complex or severe symptoms, coordinated with your GP.
- Works
- Brings several specialists together
- Access
- Availability varies by area
- Watch for
- Waiting lists can be long; keep seeing your GP meanwhile.
Save your money
Popular, heavily marketed or often asked about, but the evidence is weak or says no.
- Expensive unproven cures (blood “washing”, supplement stacks)No good evidence they work, and some carry risks and big costs.
- “Push through it” exercise if you have post-exertional malaiseCan trigger crashes. Build up slowly, guided by symptoms.
Living with it
- Keep a simple diary of activity and symptoms to spot your triggers.
- Protect your sleep and rest before you’re exhausted.
- Talk to your employer or school about a gradual return.
- Stay connected; long COVID can be isolating, and support helps.
See your GP if
- Symptoms last more than 4 weeks after COVID and you’re worried
- You crash after activity you used to manage
- Brain fog or fatigue is affecting work, study or care duties
- Your mood is low or you feel anxious most days
Get urgent help for chest pain or tightness, severe breathlessness, fainting, confusion, a seizure, or a fast heartbeat that doesn’t settle with rest: call 000 (Australia) or your local emergency number. If you’re having thoughts of harming yourself, call 000 or Lifeline on 13 11 14 (Australia, 24/7), or your local crisis line.
Outlook. Most people with long COVID improve gradually over months, though some have symptoms for a year or longer. Pacing, rehabilitation and treating individual symptoms help many people get back to their usual lives.
Common questions
How long does long COVID last?
It varies. Symptoms generally improve over 4 to 9 months, but around 15 in 100 still have symptoms after a year.
What are the most common long COVID symptoms?
Fatigue, breathlessness, brain fog, muscle and joint aches, headaches, poor sleep and changes to smell or taste.
Can you get long COVID after a mild infection?
Yes. It can follow mild COVID-19, though severe illness raises the risk.
Does vaccination prevent long COVID?
Vaccination appears to lower the chance of developing long COVID, and avoiding reinfection helps too.
What is post-exertional malaise?
A worsening of symptoms hours to days after physical or mental effort. Pacing helps prevent it.
Is long COVID the same as chronic fatigue syndrome?
Not exactly, but some people with long COVID develop symptoms that meet the criteria for ME/CFS.
Evidence and more information
maladywise.com/long-covid/