Coronavirus: COVID symptoms that could linger on to become long COVID

Unlike any other respiratory illnesses, the SARs-CoV-2 virus seems to take a more serious toll on the upper and lower respiratory tract, while also impacting overall health.

Many COVID-19 infected patients have reported experiencing symptoms that linger on for weeks and months after recovery. Experts have termed the condition as long COVID and patients suffering from lingering symptoms are known as "long haulers".

Also read: Coronavirus: Omicron less likely to put patients in long COVID; details here

Mild to moderation infection from COVID-19 could last for about one to two weeks for most people. In severe cases, recovery can be slower and symptoms could last up to six weeks or more.

One 2021 study published in the Lancet found that more than three-quarters of COVID-19 patients in a hospital in Wuhan, China, still had at least one symptom 6 months after their recovery.

Another study from Italy done much earlier in 2020 found that 87.4% of COVID-19 patients reported experiencing at least one symptom 2 months after they were discharged from the hospital.

Also read: Coronavirus: COVID-19 reinfection can occur sooner than you think; here's why immunity may wane faster

Study has also found that people with long-haul COVID-19 may not have had a severe case of the disease initially, which simply means that mild COVID can also lead to long COVID and should not be taken lightly. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some people may experience long-term effects of COVID-19, whether they require hospitalization or not.

That said, there are certain symptoms that may start off with the onset of the infection, but may continue to linger on even after you've tested negative for the virus. Read on to find out what these symptoms are.

Fatigue in general is an overall feeling of tiredness. It is associated with lack of energy and the unwillingness of the body to move or participate in any activity.

Fatigue is also a common symptom associated with viral infections including COVID-19. While it can settle after 2-3 weeks of initial illness, in some, it may linger on for weeks.

A new or continuous cough is a classic symptom of SARs-CoV-2 infection. While it is less prevalent in patients infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19, it is still a common symptom induced by the virus.

Also read: Coronavirus symptoms: The most bizarre COVID symptoms seen so far

In most patients, dry cough comes and goes in about 2-3 weeks. However, excessive coughing can cause irritation and inflammation of the airway, worsening the symptom and making it linger on for days. It could also take a severe turn if accompanied with chest pains, in light of which contacting your doctor is the best solution.

COVID-19 can affect people differently. While some people remain asymptomatic, there are those who develop severe infection.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some people, especially those who had severe COVID infection, experience multiorgan effects or autoimmune conditions with symptoms lasting weeks or months after COVID-19 illness.

One of those symptoms is shortness of breath. Studies have shown, patients who suffer from severe lung infection develop breathing issues, leading to shortness of breath that could last even after recovery.

During the second COVID wave in India, many were infected with the Delta variant, which lead to terrible symptoms. One of the symptoms include loss of sense of smell and taste, which also became a tell-tale sign of COVID.

While many restored their sense of smell once they started to recover, many others developed a condition called parosmia, a type of smell disorder, where odors become distorted and smell different than the original scent.

The novel coronavirus can also have a neurological effect, leading to symptoms such as headache, brain fog, confusion, memory problems and difficulty to focus.

A recent study conducted by a team of German researchers suggests that even people who showed no signs of cognitive impairment could have problems with memory and attention after recovering from a mild case of COVID-19.

Another study conducted by a group of scientists at the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London in the UK found that COVID lead to cognitive impairment and loss in patients similar to what is usually seen in people aged 50 to 70, or when losing 10 IQ points.

These long term implications of the virus have raised alarms worldwide and scientists continue to seek answers.