Long COVID, or what doctors refer to as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), is a condition marked by the continuation of COVID-19 symptoms—or the emergence of new ones—after recovery from acute (or the initial phase of illness of) COVID-19. While there is not yet a formal definition of long COVID, it generally refers to the persistence of symptoms four weeks or longer after the onset of COVID-19.
- Long COVID can affect anyone, including children, and it can develop in people who had asymptomatic, mild, or severe COVID-19. While it is not yet known why long COVID affects some people and not others, a recent study found that the condition is more common among older people, women, and those who had six or more symptoms during the first week of COVID-19.
- Researchers do not yet know the prevalence of long COVID, though the condition is common. A recent study in the U.S. found that approximately one-third of people who had COVID-19 report persistent symptoms up to 9 months after the initial illness. (source:YaleMedicine)
