Post-COVID conditions are a range of new, returning, or lingering symptoms that usually happen weeks to months after having COVID-19. While most people with COVID-19 recover in a few days or weeks, some people may experience ongoing symptoms, commonly known as long COVID.
People may experience one or a combination of symptoms in different parts of the body, such as the lungs, heart, nerves, and brain. Post-COVID symptoms may go away on their own, but people should see a healthcare provider if their symptoms are not going away.
Adults and children of any age can have post-COVID conditions, including people who had COVID-19 with mild or no symptoms.
People with post-COVID conditions no longer have the live or infectious coronavirus in their body, usually test negative for COVID-19, and are not contagious anymore.
Common symptoms may include any combination of*:
Tiredness or fatigue
Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental activities (also known as post-exertional malaise)
Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as "brain fog")
Stomach pain
Headache
Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)
Muscle pain
Pins-and-needles feeling
Diarrhea
Sleep problems
Cough
Fever
Dizziness on standing (lightheadedness)
Rash
Mood changes
Change in smell or taste
Changes in menstrual period cycles
*Symptoms are not limited to this list; many other symptoms have been reported.
The cause(s) of post-COVID conditions is still unknown. Research is ongoing to understand what causes post-COVID conditions. Existing studies suggest that there are various viral factors, immune system responses, and risk factors that may lead to post-Covid conditions. There is some evidence that some people with long COVID may have conditions similar to Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) or Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
Seek medical care for post-COVID conditions if you have a fever over 100.4 F, if you cannot take care of your symptoms at home, and/or if you are not recovering from your initial COVID-19 illness. In general, it's important to talk to a medical provider when your symptoms make your daily life harder, for example, if you can't focus, sleep, or do your normal activities. Since many symptoms of post-COVID conditions are like symptoms of other diseases, it is also important to see a medical provider to rule out other illnesses.
The best way to prevent post-COVID conditions is to prevent COVID-19 infection in the first place. You can prevent COVID-19 by:
Getting vaccinated & boosted. There is evidence that vaccinated people who get COVID-19 have a lower chance of getting post-COVID conditions.
Wearing face masks. Read our face coverings Q&A.
Staying home and getting tested if you're sick, even if you're fully vaccinated. Read our testing fact sheet (PDF).
Ventilating indoor spaces and socializing outdoors when possible. Read our ventilation fact sheet (PDF).
Sign Up for CA Notify, California's COVID-19 smartphone exposure notification system so that you can take appropriate actions if you are exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Learn more about protecting yourself and your family from COVID-19 (PDF).
Anyone who had COVID-19 can develop a post-COVID condition, including people who had COVID-19 with no symptoms or very mild symptoms. People in any age group can develop post-COVID conditions, but they appear to be less common in children compared to adults. There is still a lot we do not know about post-COVID conditions, and this is an area of active research.
For Resources for People with Post-COVID Conditions (Long COVID), refer to the CA Department of Public Health flyer.
Currently, El Dorado County Public Health has two teams of investigators who are assisting us in our Recovery & Vaccine Outreach. The outreach is to help identify individuals in our Community who are still recovering from a post-COVID condition and need to still receive a dose of the COVID Vaccine.
Our purpose is to reach out to patients who were never reached during the last winter surge of 2021. If they are identified as still having a post-COVID condition, we provide recommendations as well as connecting them with any resources they may still need. If we identify patients who are not or partially vaccinated, the Teams will provide education and resources on current vaccines available.
Community members may see a call from CA COVID Team (916) 262-7553, months after having COVID. We encourage the Community to answer if they are called.