COVID-19 and Post-Acute COVID Syndrome

About this data

It changes rapidly.  This data changes rapidly and might not reflect some cases still being reported.  It includes confirmed and probable cases.

In some locations, total counts include reports of both what's confirmed and what's probable. "Probable" (cases, hospitalizations, deaths, etc) are identified by public health officials and use criteria developed by government authorities, which may vary by source and region. Some areas may not have data because they haven’t published their data or haven’t done so recently.

Why do I see different data from different sources?  There are various sources that are tracking and aggregating coronavirus data. They update at different times and may have different ways of gathering data.

Do I Have COVID-19 or Flu?

The flu and COVID-19 are very similar. They are both viruses, spread in a similar manner and have similar symptoms. Dr. Rinderknecht says the flu often comes on more quickly with a fever and cough. Some people even report knowing the hour they fell ill. In many COVID-19 cases, the symptoms seem to come on more gradually with non-respiratory symptoms showing up first. Regardless of your diagnosis, you can recover from both in a similar fashion. These nine tips should help you feel better, faster.

Ways to Recover From COVID-19 and Flu at Home

1. Hydrate your Body - When people are sick, they often have low energy and appetite levels, which can lead to less liquid consumption and dehydration. Having symptoms of fever, diarrhea and/or vomiting can also cause dehydration. It’s important to drink plenty of water so your body has what it needs to fight off an illness like COVID-19 or the flu.   When you’re sick it’s best to stick with drinking water, but 100 percent orange juice, teas such as peppermint, black or green tea and 100 percent vegetable juice are all acceptable options.

2. Eat Healthy - Stick to plain foods that are easy on your stomach . Include leafy green vegetables, crackers, eggs, bananas, apples and any lean proteins. Skip the dairy – it’s hard to digest and can aggravate nausea.

3. Take Over the Counter Medications -  For body aches pain medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be taken to help alleviate symptoms.

4. Rest - Rest at home until you are fever free for 24hours

5. Steam - Taking a hot shower or lukewarm bath  can help loosen nasal secretions, boost circulation and help the body regulate temperature back to normal.  Using a cool mist humidifier also serves as the same purpose in helping with cough difficulty and breathing.

Emergency Warning Signs

When you or family members have contracted COVID it is important to watch for signs that symptoms are getting worse. 

Use a Pulse Oximeter - This is a device that goes on the finger and tracks the oxygen in the blood.  Readings less than 90% might increase the need for immediate attention and/or a hospital stay.  However, if any of the following are experienced call 911 or your local emergency number;

• • Trouble Breathing

  • Persistent chest pain or pressure

  • New confusion

  • Trouble staying awake

  • Pale, gray or blue-colored skin, lips or nail beds - depending on skin tone

What is Long COVID?

With the many changes of COVID and ways to treat, prevent and recover available, there are also those who experience new, returning or persistent symptoms lasting up to 4 weeks or more which is known as Long COVID.  Symptomatology of long COVID encompasses a multitude of body systems from physical to neuropsychiatric, and it is unclear which patients may be at risk of developing long COVID.

Symptoms of Long COVID

Common Symptoms

• Abdominal pain

• Anosmia or dysgeusia

• Arthralgia

• Brain fog, cognitive impairment

• Chest pain

• Cough

• Diarrhea

• Dyspnea or increased respiratory effort

• Ear, nose and throat symptoms (eg, tinnitus, earache, dizziness, sore throat, loss of taste and/or smell, nasal congestion)

• Fatigue

• Fever

• Hair loss

• Headache

• Impaired daily function and mobility

• Insomnia and other sleep difficulties

• Lightheadedness

• Mood changes (depression, anxiety, PTSD)

• Myalgia

• Pain

• Palpitations and/or tachycardia

• Paresthesia

• Postexertional malaise and/or poor endurance

• Rash (eg, urticaria)

All body systems may be involved in the clinical presentation of long COVID including the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hematologic, immune, musculoskeletal, neurologic, pulmonary, and renal systems along with new-onset mental health conditions.  General pain syndromes are common in these patients and require a multimodal approach to diagnosis and treatment, which may include pharmacological therapeutics, physical therapy, and psychological intervention.

Symptoms in children

Children may present lack of concentration, short-term memory loss, and/or difficulty performing everyday tasks 4 weeks or longer after acute COVID-19 illness.  However, evidence in children is limited and updated regularly according to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. 

Cardiac and respiratory symptoms appear to be less common in children than in adults.  Development of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is associated with COVID-19.

Risk Factors

The following risk factors have been associated with long COVID:

older age, female sex, non-white ethnicity, obesity, asthma, poor general health, poor pre pandemic mental health, and poor sociodemographic factors.  The risk of developing long COVID does not appear to be linked to the severity of acute COVID-19 infection including the need for hospitalization.