Living with long COVID

Debbie Louise Duncan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

One in five people have symptoms that persist after 5 weeks, and one in ten have symptoms for 12 weeks or longer after an acute COVID-19 infection ( Office for National Statistics [ONS], 2020 ). NICE ( National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2020 ) defines this condition as post-COVID syndrome or long COVID. Common symptoms vary from fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitations, insomnia and anxiety and depression and encompasses a plethora of debilitating symptoms ( Dani et al, 2021 ). The new guideline for NICE (2021) recommends that patients presenting with new or ongoing symptoms 4 weeks or later after an initial COVID infection should have the investigations done to rule out acute, life-threatening complications or identify any unrelated diagnosis ( NICE, 2021 ). Garg et al (2020) suggests that long COVID is a multisystem syndrome and needs a multifaceted approach to tackle the physical, cognitive, psychological, social, and vocational aspects of this condition. This article looks at the literature about long COVID and suggests there is a clear pathway for treatment in primary care. Certainly that all physicians should be equipped to recognise long-COVID and provide supportive management ( Dani et al, 2021 ).
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)362-368
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Prescribing Practice
Volume3
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 02 Sept 2021

Keywords

  • Pharmacology (medical)
  • Pharmacology (nursing)

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