There has been a lot of interest around the effects COVID-19 has on people's long-term health. Here we investigate its background, prevalence, treatment, prognosis and provide resources to help you support your employees.
`Long Covid' was first used to describe the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 infection and whilst not a clinically diagnostic term has now been accepted into general use. Longer term post-infective sequelae are not unique to COVID-19 and have also been widely reported after SARS and MERCoV infections, both also caused by corona viruses. The same picture is also seen after other viral infections, such as Hepatitis A and Glandular Fever. Dr Mark Simpson, Chief Medical Officer, talks about Long Covid's background, prevalence, treatment, prognosis and provides advice and support for people affected.
Definition
In the absence of agreed definitions, and for the purposes of this article, we can define post-acute COVID-19 as extending beyond three weeks from the onset of first symptoms, and chronic COVID-19 as extending beyond twelve weeks. Since many people were not tested a positive test for COVID-19 is not a prerequisite for diagnosis.
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