Millions of people in the UK have now experienced what it's like to have Covid at least once.
But for many the symptoms don't disappear in days - they can hang around for months.
According to the Office for National Statistics, more than one million people in the UK were self-reporting Long Covid as of December 6, 2021.
The symptoms reported cover a huge range - from severe fatigue to breathlessness and aches and pains, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Symptoms can also change over time, sometimes coming and going.
Those who are still experiencing the effects of Covid after four weeks since first testing positive are advised to see their doctor, who can determine whether the cause is the virus or something else.
If symptoms are severe, further investigations – including blood tests, chest x-rays and ECGs – may need to be be performed.
According to the NHS, the most common symptoms include:
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- shortness of breath
- chest pain or tightness
- problems with memory and concentration ("brain fog")
- difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- heart palpitations
- dizziness
- pins and needles
- joint pain
- depression and anxiety
- tinnitus, earaches
- feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite
- a high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste
- rashes
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said symptoms will "generally have an impact on everyday functioning".
It also said: "There is no minimal number of symptoms required for the diagnosis, though symptoms involving different organs systems and clusters have been described. "
Data from the ZOE Symptom Covid Study has shown that being double vaccinated halves the risk of developing Long Covid, though there is less evidence about whether it can help people who already have the condition.
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