Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions
Most people with COVID-19 get better within a few days to a few weeks after infection. Some people can experience long-term effects from their infection, known as post-COVID conditions or long COVID. People with post-COVID conditions can have a wide range of symptoms that can last weeks, months, or years. Sometimes the symptoms will go away but return later. Post-COVID conditions are found more often in people who had severe COVID-19 illness, but anyone who has been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience post-COVID conditions.
There is no test to diagnose post-COVID conditions, and symptoms could come from other health problems. This can make it difficult for healthcare providers to recognize post-COVID conditions. Your healthcare provider considers a diagnosis of post-COVID conditions based on your health history, including if you had a diagnosis of COVID-19 either by a positive test or by symptoms or exposure, as well as doing a health examination.