Abstract
Long COVID is a clinical diagnosis generally referring to the persistence or development
of new symptoms, affecting multiple organ systems after SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 infection.
Long COVID is thought to affect ∼20% of people after infection, including all age
ranges and severity of infection. Fatigue, postexertional malaise, and respiratory
and cardiac symptoms are commonly described. Neurological symptoms such as cognitive
changes, sensory disturbances, headaches, and dysautonomia are common as well. The
underlying pathophysiology remains unclear but immune dysregulation, autoimmunity,
persistent viral reservoirs, and microvascular dysfunction have been implicated. As
there are no tests at this time to diagnose long COVID, work-up should be focused
on assessing reversible or treatable causes of symptoms. Furthermore, no treatments
for long COVID currently exist, and management remains focused on a multimodal approach
and symptom management, with many people showing improvement in symptoms over time.
Keywords
fatigue - brain fog - dysautonomia - headache - neuropathy
