Long COVID

Your Symptoms Are Real

Long COVID is a chronic condition that can affect anyone who has previously had COVID-19. Symptoms can last for months or longer, and they can greatly impact your daily life.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe and disabling. Long COVID can make you tired and achy a lot of the time. It can make your brain feel foggy. It can give you a cough and breathing problems that don’t seem to go away. If you haven’t been feeling like yourself for a while and you don’t know why, it might be Long COVID.

You are not imagining it, and other people are experiencing it, too. Once you understand Long COVID, you can better manage your symptoms and get support.

If you are a provider looking for patient resources, visit our Long COVID Resources for Providers page.

What Does Having Long COVID Feel Like?

Long COVID shows up differently for everyone. The signs can change over time, be hard to describe or resemble other illnesses.

Extreme Fatigue
Illustration of a woman working at a desk. A figure that looks like Long COVID is poking her in the cheek with its finger, making her tired.

Extreme Fatigue
Small things can take up all your physical and mental energy for days.

Brain Fog
Illustration of a person reading a book while riding the bus. Long COVID forms a stormy-looking cloud over the person’s head.

Brain Fog
Your brain can feel scattered, foggy and unfocused. You may have trouble remembering words or have a hard time completing simple tasks.

Cough and Chest Pains
Illustration of a woman stopped on the street and coughing. A figure that looks like Long COVID is wrapped around a nearby lamppost and is leering at her.

Cough and Chest Pains
You’re coughing a lot and it won’t go away. You often have chest pains or trouble breathing.

Loss of Smell or Taste
Illustration of an irritated man in an airplane seat. A figure that looks like Long COVID has its fingers up the man’s nose and is eating his in-flight snacks.

Loss of Smell or Taste
You sometimes can’t smell or taste anything, or things don’t smell or taste normal.

Feeling Feverish
Illustration of a woman sitting on a blanket outside. It is a sunny day, but she is shivering and cold. Long COVID has taken the form of an open refrigerator, blowing chilly air onto the woman.

Feeling Feverish
You have fever, chills, general aches and pains, often lasting for a while. Symptoms get worse after mental or physical effort or change in temperature.

There Are Many More Symptoms
Illustration of a woman laying on her back on the carpet. She has a tear in her eye. Long COVID has formed a thundercloud that is raining down on her.

There are many more symptoms, including fast or irregular heartbeat, feeling like you might pass out, headaches, stomach pains, joint and muscle pain, depression, and menstrual changes.

Extreme Fatigue
Illustration of a woman working at a desk. A figure that looks like Long COVID is poking her in the cheek with its finger, making her tired.

Extreme Fatigue
Small things can take up all your physical and mental energy for days.

Brain Fog
Illustration of a person reading a book while riding the bus. Long COVID forms a stormy-looking cloud over the person’s head.

Brain Fog
Your brain can feel scattered, foggy and unfocused. You may have trouble remembering words or have a hard time completing simple tasks.

Cough and Chest Pains
Illustration of a woman stopped on the street and coughing. A figure that looks like Long COVID is wrapped around a nearby lamppost and is leering at her.

Cough and Chest Pains
You’re coughing a lot and it won’t go away. You often have chest pains or trouble breathing.

Loss of Smell or Taste
Illustration of an irritated man in an airplane seat. A figure that looks like Long COVID has its fingers up the man’s nose and is eating his in-flight snacks.

Loss of Smell or Taste
You sometimes can’t smell or taste anything, or things don’t smell or taste normal.

Feeling Feverish
Illustration of a woman sitting on a blanket outside. It is a sunny day, but she is shivering and cold. Long COVID has taken the form of an open refrigerator, blowing chilly air onto the woman.

Feeling Feverish
You have fever, chills, general aches and pains, often lasting for a while. Symptoms get worse after mental or physical effort or change in temperature.

There Are Many More Symptoms
Illustration of a woman laying on her back on the carpet. She has a tear in her eye. Long COVID has formed a thundercloud that is raining down on her.

There are many more symptoms, including fast or irregular heartbeat, feeling like you might pass out, headaches, stomach pains, joint and muscle pain, depression, and menstrual changes.

How Do I Prevent Long COVID?

You can prevent Long COVID by not getting COVID-19. Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations is your best defense against COVID-19.

Anyone who has had COVID-19 can develop Long COVID, and the risk increases with each infection. While COVID-19 is contagious, Long COVID is not. Vaccinated people who still get COVID-19 may be less likely to develop Long COVID than unvaccinated people.

Other tools you can use to prevent COVID-19 infection include wearing a mask, improving air flow and filtration, regularly washing your hands with soap and water, cleaning highly touched surfaces, physical distancing and testing.

Learn about getting vaccinated for COVID-19.

How Is Long COVID Diagnosed?

Researchers and health care providers are still learning about Long COVID, which can make it difficult to diagnose. Some symptoms can also be difficult to understand. There are currently no lab tests or imaging studies to diagnose Long COVID. Medical tests can show normal results even if a patient has Long COVID.

If you feel sick, getting tested for COVID-19 early can support a Long COVID diagnosis later. If you think you have Long COVID, it is best to talk to a doctor or health care provider about your symptoms.

Before the appointment, keep a list of your health history and symptoms. Make a list of current medications and questions you might have. These steps will help your doctor properly diagnose you.

Illustration of a figure that looks like Long COVID forming a long spiral shape. Its many arms are playing the guitar, drums, and other musical instruments.

What Is It Like Living With Long COVID?

For many people, Long COVID is not just feeling unwell for a while but a disabling illness that impacts every part of life. Once you recognize and understand your symptoms, talk with a health care provider to determine if it’s Long COVID. Until then, here are ways to manage common symptoms:

  • Follow up with your doctor or health care provider regularly to manage changes in symptoms and different treatment options. They can also help you rule out other conditions and illnesses that have similar symptoms to Long COVID. With a diagnosis, you may also have access to disability benefits and job protections.
  • Pace your daily activities based on your energy levels. Plan around when you have energy and prioritize tasks and commitments.
  • Talk to people in your life about how you have been feeling and how they can support you. Joining a support group for people with chronic health conditions can help ease feelings of isolation.
  • Give yourself grace. It can be frustrating to not feel like yourself and overwhelming to not understand why. Taking care of yourself and closely monitoring your health takes patience and time. Remember you are not alone.

Hear stories from people living with Long COVID (StoryCorp).

Answers About Long COVID

What are the symptoms of Long COVID?

Everyone’s symptoms are different, but some of the most common include:

  • Tiredness that interferes with everyday life
  • Feeling generally unwell after physical or mental effort
  • Brain fog and difficulty thinking or focusing
  • Fever
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Coughing
  • Chest pain
  • Fast or irregular heartbeat
  • Change in smell and/or taste
  • Headaches
  • Sleep problems
  • Anxiety or depression
  • Dizziness when standing up
  • Joint or muscle pain
  • Pins-and-needles feelings
  • Stomach pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Rash
  • Changes in menstrual cycles
Can I get disability or accommodations for my Long COVID symptoms?

Yes. Long COVID can be considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This means people may be protected from discrimination and be eligible for reasonable accommodations from businesses and government services.

In Washington, Paid Family and Medical Leave may provide paid time off if Long COVID affects your ability to work or requires ongoing care. Learn more about making a claim with Labor & Industries or Paid Family and Medical Leave on our Long COVID Resources for Providers page, and get guidance on ADA accommodations.

Who is most impacted by Long COVID?

Anyone who has had COVID-19 can develop Long COVID. The best way to prevent Long COVID is to not get COVID-19. Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines reduces your risk of Long COVID, as does practicing social distancing and masking if you’re around someone who is sick with COVID-19.

6.2% of adults in Washington (about 380,000 people) have reported Long COVID symptoms. 20-30% of them say it has greatly limited their daily activities. Those most impacted include:

  • People living in rural areas
  • Hispanic people
  • People aged 35-49
  • Women
How does Long COVID affect new or preexisting health conditions?

After COVID-19, some people develop new health concerns. Long COVID can affect your organs and lead to diagnosable autoimmune or chronic fatigue conditions. Preexisting conditions, including diabetes and heart disease, can become worse after COVID-19 illness.

Can children get Long COVID?

Yes. Children and teens can develop Long COVID, and symptoms like fatigue and brain fog can make it harder for them to concentrate at school or participate in daily activities. Younger children may also have difficulty describing how their symptoms feel.

Children with Long COVID may be eligible for special education, protections or related services under federal law (PDF). Vaccinating young people against COVID-19 is the best way to prevent Long COVID. Learn about getting vaccinated for COVID-19.

Can I have Long COVID if I’m pregnant?

Yes. Pregnant or recently pregnant people are more likely to become severely ill from COVID-19, which can lead to complications for both parent and baby. Studies are still being done about the effects of Long COVID during and after pregnancy.

DOH recommends everyone 6 months and older receive the COVID-19 vaccine, including all who are planning pregnancy, pregnant, postpartum, or lactating. See our pregnancy and vaccines frequently asked questions for further guidance.

Community Resources

Physician and Public Health Resources

Please see the Long COVID Resources for Providers page for more information.