About Long COVID
Some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience long-term effects from their infection. This has come to be known as post-COVID condition (PCC) or long COVID.
Long COVID is not COVID-19. Symptoms can be quite different from those experienced during the initial infection. It refers to the longer-term effects some people experience after their COVID-19 infection.
Long COVID can include a wide range of ongoing health problems; these conditions can last weeks, months, or years.
People More Likely to Develop Long COVID
Researchers are working to understand which people or groups of people are more likely to have long COVID, and why. Studies have shown that some groups of people may be affected more by long COVID.
The following are examples and not a complete list of people or groups who might be more at risk than other groups for developing long COVID:
- Long COVID is found more often in people who had severe COVID-19 illness, especially those who were hospitalized or needed intensive care, but anyone who has been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience long COVID. Even people who had mild illness or no symptoms from COVID-19.
- People who had underlying health conditions prior to COVID-19
- People who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 and become infected may also be at higher risk of developing long COVID compared to people who were vaccinated and still got COVID-19 (breakthrough infection).
Additional Information
