Post-COVID-19 (coronavirus) syndrome, also known as “long-COVID-19” or “long-haulers,” describes the condition of experiencing lingering symptoms after COVID-19 infection that can persist for weeks or months and/or become long-term health problems. Affecting only an estimated 10% of patients who have had a COVID-19 infection, patients with Post-COVID-19 syndrome test negative for the virus; however, they continue to experience symptoms believed to be caused by lingering organ damage after a COVID-19 infection.

The most common symptoms of Post-COVID syndrome may include fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, joint pain, and chest pain. Long-term symptoms may include muscle aches, headache, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, loss of taste and/or smell, problems with memory, concentration, or sleep, depression and anxiety, rash, and hair loss. Patients who have suffered organ (lungs, heart, brain) damage from a COVID-19 infection may have an increased risk of long-term health problems, such as difficulty breathing and other pulmonary function disorders, heart failure or other complications, such as myocarditis (heart inflammation) and ventricular dysfunction, difficulty swallowing, acute kidney injury, seizures, strokes, Guillain-Barre syndrome (temporary paralysis), as well as an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Additional long-term health problems associated with Post-COVID-19 syndrome include abnormal blood clotting that can damage blood vessels, the liver, and kidneys. Patients who experienced severe COVID-19 symptoms requiring mechanical ventilation treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) may have an increased risk of developing post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), while other patients may develop chronic fatigue syndrome and mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety.

Currently, there is no definitive treatment for Post-COVID-19 syndrome, while research is ongoing. However, Post-COVID-19 care centers staffed with multidisciplinary teams that focus on rehabilitation and symptom treatment are rapidly opening across the U.S. to provide COVID-19 aftercare to patients affected by Post-COVID-19 syndrome.