EC Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine

‘Long COVID’ is also commonly known as ‘Post-COVID-19 Condition’ (PCC) or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This unfortunate condition, which truly is a bane of patients infected previously with the COVID-19 virus, usually results in multisystem symptoms and clinical signs which persist or recur after acute COVID-19 infection. Long COVID may present with clinical features which may be continuous, progressive or of a remitting and relapsing nature, usually setting in about 3 months after the acute infection. While most patients who recover after an acute COVID-19 infection recover fully, a significant percentage (roughly between 10%-30%) develop at least one or more persistent symptom which continues to remain beyond a period of 3 months. The exact prevalence varies depending on the severity of the original infection (and whether the patient is hospitalised or not), presence of comorbidities, age of the patient and vaccination status.