Persistent covid

Here we provide information about recovery after COVID, including the ongoing symptoms that some people have.

When will I get better after having COVID?

For most people who get it, symptoms improve within a few weeks. But some, especially those who got sick enough to need to go to the hospital, continue to have symptoms for longer, and these can be mild or severe.

Three stages of illness and recovery are generally described:

• Acute COVID: refers to symptoms that last up to four weeks after a person becomes infected. Most people with mild COVID have no symptoms beyond this stage, but some do.
• Ongoing symptomatic COVID: refers to symptoms that continue 4-12 weeks after infection. People who become seriously ill during the acute stage are more likely to have ongoing symptoms.
• Post COVID: refers to symptoms that continue beyond 12 weeks after infection. This is more common in people with severe COVID, which means they needed to stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), have a ventilator (breathing machine), or have other types of respiratory support.

What symptoms are most likely to persist?

This is not the same for everyone. But symptoms that are most likely to last more than a few weeks include:

• Fatigue, in other words, feeling very tired.
• Sensation of difficulty breathing.
• Discomfort in the chest.
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Other physical symptoms can also continue beyond a few weeks. These include problems with the sense of smell or taste, headache, runny nose, joint or muscle pain, trouble sleeping or eating, sweating, and diarrhea.

There are some cases of people who present persistence of continuous psychological symptoms. These include:

• Difficulty thinking clearly, concentrating, or remembering.
• Depression, anxiety, or a related condition called post-traumatic stress disorder ('PTSD').

It is difficult for doctors to predict when symptoms will improve, as this can vary from person to person. Your recovery will depend on your age, general health, and the severity of your COVID symptoms. Some symptoms, such as fatigue, can continue even while others improve or disappear.

How long will I be contagious?

It's hard to know for sure. In general, most people already are not contagious between 10 and 14 days after symptoms started. But this depends on a number of things, including the severity of the infection and what symptoms you continue to have.

When should I call my doctor or nurse?

A little bit of it is common and can persist for a few weeks until you recover. But if we had COVID and we continue to have bothersome symptoms (such as severe fatigue or chest discomfort or shortness of breath) after two to three weeks, we should ask for a consultation with your doctor or nurse. We must also consult in case we begin to feel worse or if we present any new symptoms. Depending on the symptoms, we may need tests.

How are persistent symptoms treated?

In general, treatment involves addressing any symptoms you have, it is a symptomatic treatment. Often this means combining a few different treatments.

If you are tired, try to get enough rest. You can also try these strategies to relieve fatigue:

• Plan the accomplishment of important tasks for when you have the most energy, usually in the morning.
• Control the rhythm of activities not to do too much at once and take breaks throughout the day if we feel tired.
• Think about the most important tasks and activities of each day, so that let's not use more energy than we need.
• If you don't sleep well improve your "sleep hygiene" it can help. This involves things like going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, avoiding caffeine and alcohol at the end of the day, and not looking at screens before bed.

Depending on the situation, you may also need:

• Medicines to relieve symptoms such as cough or pain.
• Cardiac Rehabilitation: This involves improving heart health through activities such as exercise, dietary changes, and quitting smoking (if we smoke).
• Pulmonary rehabilitation: includes breathing exercises to help strengthen the lungs.
• Physical and occupational therapy: it is about learning exercises, movements and ways of doing everyday tasks.
• Treatments for anxiety or depression- This may include medication and / or psychotherapy.
• Exercises and strategies to help with memory and concentration.

Is there a way to avoid persistent symptoms?

The only way to safely avoid this is to avoid getting COVID. It is true that most infected people will not have a serious covid. But it is impossible to know who will recover quickly and who will have persistent symptoms.

The best way to prevent COVID is. In addition to protecting yourself, getting vaccinated will also help protect other people, including those who are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill or dying. People who are not vaccinated can reduce their risk by social distancing, wearing masks in public, and washing their hands frequently.

• For most people who get COVID, symptoms improve within a few weeks. But some, especially those who got sick enough to need to go to the hospital, continue to have symptoms longer, and these can be mild or severe.
• It is difficult for doctors to predict when symptoms will improve, as this can vary from person to person. Your recovery will depend on your age, general health, and the severity of your COVID symptoms.
• In general, treatment involves addressing any symptoms you have, it is a symptomatic treatment. Often this means combining a few different treatments.