An estimated 1.5 million people in the UK suffer from so-called long Covid, according to a recent study.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that around 2.4 per cent of the UK population have seen symptoms persist for more than four weeks after testing positive for Covid.
Studies are continuing globally on the causes of the condition and the symptoms experienced.
An immunologist warned that long Covid could cause people to have disabilities and mental health issues for life.
Professor Danny Altmann said that people with the conditions could be driven out of housing, work or in worst cases, even suicide.
His comments came amid a resurgence of Covid cases in Scotland over recent weeks.
Here is everything we know about long Covid so far.
What is long Covid?
NHS Scotland has described long Covid as symptoms that can last for ‘a few weeks or longer’ following infection from the virus.
Symptoms of the conditions are said to be not limited to people who were hospitalised or seriously unwell with Covid.
Healthcare professionals may refer to long Covid as ongoing symptomatic coronavirus (four to 12 weeks) or post Covid-19 syndrome (over 12 weeks).
As long Covid is a new and developing condition, very little is known about it - with investigations still taking place across the globe.
Some people have attempted to carry on as normal while managing symptoms of long Covid, while other may require professional help if their ailments worsen.
Symptoms of long Covid
An international study carried out in July last year found that there could be more than 200 symptoms of long Covid.
The study, conducted by University College London, said that symptoms range from:
- visual hallucinations
- tremors
- itchy skin
- changes to the menstrual cycle
- sexual dysfunction
- heart palpitations
- bladder control issues
- shingles
- memory loss
- blurred vision
- diarrhoea
- tinnitus.
Speaking on the study, senior author Dr Athena Akrami, said: “While there has been a lot of public discussion around long COVID, there are few systematic studies investigating this population; hence relatively little is known about its range of symptoms, and their progression over time, the severity, and expected clinical course (longevity), its impact on daily functioning, and expected return to baseline health.
“In this unique approach, we have gone directly to ‘long haulers’ around the world in order to establish a foundation of evidence for medical investigation, improvement of care, and advocacy for the long COVID population. This is the most comprehensive characterisation of long COVID symptoms, so far.”
Experts at NHS Scotland have also listed the most common symptoms experienced in people with long Covid.
These include:
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Breathlessness
- Muscle and joint pain
- Sleep problems
- Loss of smell or taste
- Low mood
- Brain fog
- Anxiety
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