Long Covid describes the long-term health consequences of a Covid disease. Long Covid includes symptoms that persist or reappear after a corona infection has subsided.
Patients with Long Covid report a wide range of physical and mental/psychological symptoms. The summarised data sets show that the 10 most frequently reported symptoms are
- Tiredness (fatigue),
- Shortness of breath,
- muscle pain,
- joint pain,
- headaches,
- cough,
- chest pain,
- altered sense of smell and taste and
- diarrhoea
are common symptoms.
In addition, patients describe cognitive impairments such as
- memory loss,
- anxiety and
- sleep disorders.
As a result of these symptoms, the quality of life of Long Covid sufferers is often limited.
The treatment of Long Covid is currently difficult, as symptoms can occur very individually and there is (still) no standardised therapy [1].
One starting point is to monitor symptoms in order to recognise changes and complications, to seek help from doctors and therapists and to initiate follow-up measures.
This article describes some common long Covid symptoms and thus provides a basis for monitoring symptoms.
Fatigue
Fatigue is physical or cognitive exhaustion that goes beyond normal levels. It describes a feeling of extreme tiredness, lack of energy and exhaustion. This exhaustion is not related to the previous activity. Rest and sleep do little or nothing to alleviate it.
In severe cases, simple activities such as going shopping or taking a shower can lead to pronounced physical exhaustion. These fatigue attacks are called "crash" or post-exertional malaise (PEM) in the context of Long Covid and ME/CFS.
A crash or PEM is a temporary stress reaction that occurs around 24-72 hours after the triggering event. A crash can lead to a worsening of the general symptoms, in particular to this enormous exhaustion. The exhaustion can be
- physically (e.g. weakness and tiredness), but also
- cognitive (e.g. attention and concentration disorders).
manifest itself. Those affected often have to spend hours or even days lying in bed or on the couch with plenty of rest until the symptoms improve.
Fatigue occurs as a concomitant symptom of various chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, cancer or rheumatic diseases. In long Covid patients, it is one of the most common side effects, occurring in 10-45% of patients. It is also referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome, as fatigue often manifests itself over the long term [2-4].
To date, there are no drug therapies for fatigue. Experts therefore recommend pacing as a coping strategy.
Smell & taste disorders
Changes in the sense of smell and taste are common during coronavirus disease. An altered sense of smell is also known as anosmia, hyposmia or parosmia, while an altered sense of taste is known as dysgeusia or parageusia. The sense of smell and taste often normalises again when the infection subsides. However, in 5-46% of long Covid patients, the sense of smell and 4-42% of long Covid patients the sense of taste is altered in the long term [5,6].
A basic distinction is made between a "reduced" sense of smell and a "significant loss" or even a "complete loss" of the sense of smell and taste.
In order to support the regeneration of the sense of smell, regular olfactory training can be carried out at home. This involves trying to stimulate the olfactory mucosa by smelling scents such as lemon, rose, eucalyptus and clove for 20-30 seconds in the morning and evening. This can improve your sense of smell over the coming weeks and months.
Pain
Pain is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) as "an unpleasant sensory or emotional experience associated with or resembling actual or potential tissue damage."
Pain is a common side effect of Long Covid. The exact causes of Long Covid pain are not yet fully understood, but various hypotheses are being discussed. These include organ damage, inflammation, an altered immune status and psychological effects. It is also hypothesised that the pain is related to the multisystemic nature of Long Covid, which affects different organ systems.
The pain can affect different parts of the body, including the head, chest, muscles and joints. Headaches and pain in the musculoskeletal system are common with Long Covid.
Headaches
For Long Covid patients, headaches (migraines or tension headaches) are among the most common types of pain [1,7,8]. According to studies, they occur in around 18-89% of patients [7,8]. Headaches often manifest themselves and continue to occur 6-9 months after the onset of Long Covid disease [9].
Patients who suffered from headaches during the coronavirus disease or had migraines before the coronavirus infection have a higher risk of also suffering from headaches during Long Covid [9].
Muscle pain, joint and limb pain can also occur during Long Covid.
Muscle, joint and limb pain
Musculoskeletal pain, including muscle, joint and limb pain, is a common symptom of Long Covid. According to studies, musculoskeletal pain occurs in up to 65.2% of patients [10].
Muscle pain
Muscle pain, also known as myalgia, is pain that occurs in the muscles. It can occur in any muscle of the body and can have various causes. The causes of muscle pain include overuse, injury, tension, stress and infection.
Muscle pain occurs in 18-42% of Long Covid patients [11,12]. Around one in five long Covid patients experience muscle pain for up to a year after the infection [11].
Muscle pain in Long Covid is statistically more common in women than in men. A higher BMI has also been associated with an increased incidence of muscle pain in Long Covid [10].
Joint pain
Joint pain is pain that occurs in the various joints of the body. According to studies, joint pain occurs in 2-65% of Long Covid patients [13], but these figures vary greatly in different studies. In about one in five Long Covid patients, joint pain was still present one year after infection [11].
Limb pain
Limb pain describes a usually symmetrical pain sensation in the arms and legs. The term limb pain often includes muscle pain, but it can also refer to pain in the joints, nerves or bones. Limb pain is often very non-specific as it involves the various structures of the extremities.
Pain can have different causes and should be discussed with the attending physician in order to develop a treatment appropriate to the cause. To prevent this pain from becoming chronic, i.e. so that you have to live with it permanently, you should react as soon as possible. Pain can also exacerbate other accompanying symptoms such as fatigue, which is why special attention should be paid to them.
If you are suffering from pain, discuss it with your doctor to ensure the best possible pain therapy. It is important that the pain is described very precisely so that your doctor can assess your pain as accurately as possible. Document your pain and try to answer the following questions:
- Where exactly do you feel the pain?
- (Since) when do you feel the pain? Does it occur regularly at certain times of the day?
- Can you provoke the pain through certain actions?
- How does the pain feel? Sharp? Dull? Sharp? Burning? Pulsating? Consistently monotonous?
- Do you feel other sensations, such as tingling?
In addition to medication, other measures can also help with pain. For example, there are physiotherapy and physiotherapy approaches that can help with pain. Patients report, for example, that regular stretching and progressive muscle relaxation can provide relief. Mindfulness exercises, relaxation and meditation can also support pain therapy.
Breathing problems
Breathing problems are a common side effect of Long Covid. Breathing problems include shortness of breath and a persistent cough.
About 20% of Long Covid patients are affected by a persistent cough [1]. Coughing is a common side effect, particularly in the first 6-12 weeks after coronavirus disease.
If the symptoms persist for longer, further clarification should be sought with the treating physicians.
Respiratory training or physiotherapy can be helpful to alleviate symptoms and improve breathing. Other treatment is based on the guidelines for "cough" and should be discussed with your doctor.
Sleep problems
Sleep problems are a common problem with Post/ Long Covid. This can have long-term consequences and lead to a disturbed sleep-wake cycle, for example.
If you also suffer from sleep problems, a good sleep routine can help to prevent them.
Other symptoms of Long Covid
Long Covid is accompanied by a variety of symptoms that can vary from patient to patient.
According to studies, the following symptoms and side effects can occur more frequently in the context of Long Covid [14-17]:
- Cognitive disorders
difficulty concentrating, brain fog
- Skin changes
hair loss, reddening of the skin, wheals, blisters and dry skin
- Mental disorders
Stress, depressed mood & depression, anxiety
- Digestive problems
Diarrhoea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite
- Cardiological problems
shortness of breath, fatigue, heart palpitations
Less frequently, patients also reported
- Sensitivity disorders
Trembling (tremor), stabbing sensations
- Hearing disorders
tinnitus or ringing in the ears
- Bladder problems
- Problems with vision
- Changes in the menstrual cycle
reported [14-17].
Long Covid is accompanied by various symptoms. The most common symptoms include fatigue, olfactory and taste disorders. Pain, breathing problems and sleep problems. Other accompanying symptoms have also been reported by Long Covid sufferers.
Scientific projects are trying to understand the underlying causes of the symptoms of Long Covid. As research in this area is still relatively new, the treatment of Long Covid is not (yet) standardised. Instead, symptoms are considered individually or in combination in order to alleviate them. This means that attempts are made to treat the existing symptoms without being able to combat the underlying cause. In addition, many symptoms that may be causing you concern disappear on their own after a while.
.webp){kind=logo}
