Post COVID-19 condition (long COVID): Symptoms and treatment
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About long COVID condition
Long COVID occurs when a person has symptoms, or develops new symptoms, 3 months after being infected with COVID-19. These symptoms last for at least 2 months with no other explanation.
You can show symptoms of long COVID even if you:
- haven't been formally tested and diagnosed with COVID-19
- only had mild to moderate symptoms when you had COVID-19
Long COVID can affect both adults and children and is not COVID-19.
Symptoms of long COVID
Long COVID affects everyone differently, and there have been reports of over 100 symptoms.
The most common symptoms in adults are:
- fatigue
- trouble sleeping
- shortness of breath
- general pain and discomfort
- cognitive problems, such as:
- memory loss
- difficulty thinking or concentrating
- mental health symptoms, such as:
- anxiety
- depression
The most common symptoms in children include:
- fatigue
- headaches
- abdominal pain
- sleep problems
- shortness of breath
- cognitive problems, such as difficulty thinking or concentrating
- muscle aches and joint pains
Symptoms can vary in severity and can disappear and reappear. In some patients, new or existing symptoms can worsen hours or days after minimal physical or mental activities. These worsening symptoms may last for days or weeks. This is also called post-exertional malaise.
Long-term effects
Long COVID is a fairly new illness, and we're continuing to learn about it. As of June 2023, 19% of adults in Canada who got COVID-19 experienced longer-term symptoms 3 or more months after infection.
Learn more:
Diagnosing long COVID
There is no single definitive test to diagnose long COVID. However, there are several tools available to help you make informed decisions about testing and diagnosis of long COVID. Testing includes identifying or ruling out other important conditions, which should be discussed with your health care provider.
If you're diagnosed with long COVID and are unable to work, you may be eligible for disability benefits or employment insurance (EI).
Learn more:
- Disability Tax Credit
- Diagnosis of post COVID-19 condition
- Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits
- EI sickness benefits: What these benefits offer
- Testing, identification, and diagnosis related to post COVID-19 condition (PDF)
Treating long COVID
Depending on your long COVID symptoms and medical history, you and your health care provider can decide together about what treatments are right for you.
Exercise
For some people with long COVID, activity, movement or exercise-based therapies may help ease symptoms. You can try exercising as soon as you feel well enough. However, always check with your health care provider because some people's symptoms may worsen with exercise.
Medication
At this time, Health Canada hasn't approved any treatments for long COVID. However, research shows that the off-label use of some other medications may offer benefits. Talk to your health care provider about medications that may be right for you.
Learn more:
Related links
- Patient resources (CANCOV)
- COVID-19 (coronavirus disease)
- Patient-Led Research Collaborative: Long COVID