Long COVID symptoms
NICE pointed out that the prevalence data has several limitations. In addition to small sample sizes in some studies, “people were recruited to the studies in different ways, some of which were through self-selection and are subsequently less likely to be representative of the population.”3
Some studies involved social media discussion groups, and “all studies were considered to be at high or moderate risk of bias.”
It is apparent, however, that “symptoms after acute COVID-19 are highly variable and wide ranging.” The most commonly reported symptoms listed in the subsequent guideline, NG188, on the long-term effects of COVID-19 include (but are not limited to) the following:4
| Respiratory symptoms |
breathlessness, cough |
| Cardiovascular symptoms |
chest tightness, chest pain, palpitations |
| Generalised symptoms |
fatigue, fever, pain |
| Neurological symptoms |
cognitive impairment ('brain fog', loss of concentration or memory issues), headache, sleep disturbance, peripheral neuropathy symptoms (pins and needles and numbness), dizziness, delirium (in older populations) |
| Gastrointestinal symptoms |
abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea, anorexia and reduced appetite (in older populations) |
| Musculoskeletal symptoms |
joint pain, muscle pain, psychological/psychiatric symptoms, symptoms of depression, symptoms of anxiety |
| Ear, nose and throat symptoms |
tinnitus, earache, sore throat, dizziness; loss of taste and/or smell |
| Dermatological | skin rashes |