The World Health Organization (WHO) defines long-COVID syndrome as the continuation or development of new symptoms 3 months after the initial (suspected or confirmed) SARS-CoV-2 infection, with these symptoms lasting for at least 2 months and having no other explanation.
Long COVID is found in around 10% of all SARS-CoV-2 infections.
It is estimated to affect between 325 and 606 million people worldwide.
Risk factors:
Risk factors that increase the chance of long COVID include older age, female gender, type 2 diabetes, specific autoimmune condition (self-attacking antibodies), immunocompromised state, hospitalization, and certain socioeconomic conditions, such as lower income. etc.
Common symptoms:
Tiredness, difficulty in breathing, neurological symptoms, cardiac symptoms, loss of taste and smell, difficulty sleeping, cough, headache, joint pain, mental disorders, fever, hair loss, and problems with digestion.
