Full list of 170 long Covid symptoms that plague body and mind – from hair loss to incontinence
THOUSANDS of Brits say they have been left suffering from crippling symptoms long after recovering from coronavirus.
Those with so-called long Covid have reported breathlessness, chronic fatigue and brain fog - months after initially falling ill.
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According to data from the Covid Symptom Study app, which was analysed by King's College London researchers, up to 60,000 people in the UK are likely to be suffering with long-term symptoms after contracting coronavirus.
Co-leading scientist for the post-hospitalisation Covid-19 study Dr Rachel Evans said many people had been put out of work because they are unable to carry out their usual daily tasks, due to the lingering after-effects.
It comes as experts from the National Institute for Health Research warn long Covid is not one single condition, but could actually be four different syndromes.
Earlier this month, a group of doctors affected by long Covid called for an action plan in tackling the long-term health effects of the virus.
A letter signed by 39 doctors said there was an "emerging picture" that long-term symptoms of the virus were having a substantial impact on a significant minority of people.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has acknowledged that long Covid exists and said that work "is being done on it".
With as many as 60,000 people thought to have long Covid, it's unsurprising that support groups have started to emerge on social media.
One known as the Post Covid Syndrome Group now has 3,000 members from more than 60 countries.
Group founder Claire Hastie told the Mirror: "People are experiencing so many symptoms - we've counted 172.
"GPs aren't believing them, they say they're making it up.
"Employers have no idea what these people are going through either."
Here, she has shared the full list of 172 symptoms of long Covid reported by members of the group...
Neurological/Nervous System
- Violent seizures
- Violent shaking
- Vibrations inside the body
- Trembling
- Twitching of fingers/thumbs
- Nightime weird sensations eg, feeling frightened
- Brain fog
- Confusion
- Forgetfulness
- Numbness in extremities: fingertips
Dermatological
- Scaly skin
- Itchy skin
- Bruising
- Livedo reticularis
- Red marks appearing under skin
- Dry skin
- Skin ageing
- Weird lumps appearing on skin
- Circles/lumps appearing on feet
Cardio-vascular
- Heart racing
- Heart stabbing pain
- Heart palpitations
Sensory Changes
- Loss of smell
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of taste
- Hearing Strange sounds at night
- Flashing lights in the eyes
- Shadows in corner of eyes
- Tinnitus
- Buzzing of ears
- Popping of ears
- Excessive thirst
Women’s issues
- Disruption to menstrual cycle
- Amenorrhea
Physiological Changes
- Muscle pain
- Lower Back pain
- Shoulder pain
- Neck pain
- Swollen glands
- Hair loss (men and women)
- Severe cramping
Lung /Respiratory Function
- Breathlessness
- Lung bruising
- Chest tightness
- Lung pressure
- Asthmatic exacerbation
- Coughing when lying down.
- Clear mucus producing cough
- Blood clots
Mental Health
- Depression
- Anxiety (being over prescribed/labelled by medics)
- Frustration
- Isolation
- Loneliness
- Demoralisation (due to not being believed)
- Feelings of sadness
Gastro-intestinal
- Rumbling intestines (above normal levels)
- Diarrhoea
- Stool colour changes
- Bloating
- Belching
- Gas production increases/decreases
Sleep Disturbances
- Sleep apnoea
- Insomnia
- Fatigued sleep
- Psychological disturbances in the dark
- Psychological disturbances when sleeping
- Have to sleep sitting upright
Bowel habits and urinary changes
- Urine incontinence at night whilst sleeping
- Urine incontinence during the day whilst active
- Faecal incontinence at night whilst sleeping
- Faecal incontinence during the day whilst active
- Stomach cramping/intestinal cramps
Head/Facial/Maxillo issues
- Jaw pain
- Sinus problems
- Pain in cheek bones/jaw area
- Neck glands up
- Parotid glands up
- Glands by ears up
- Glands on back of head/upper neck up
- Hair loss
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Vision Changes
- Blurry vision
- Foggy vision (sudden bursts)
- Floaters in vision
- Black shadows in corner of eyes
- Blurry vision with screens/bright lights/cannot read letters
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Other problems (mixed in origin)
- Sore throat
- Laryngitis
- Headaches
- Mobility problems walking
- Circulatory issues cold hands
- Circulatory issues cold feet
- Migraines
- Bells palsy
- Slurred speech
- Stroke like symptoms
- Collapse
- Mobility issues
- Phantom smells (amnosia followed by this)
- Acid reflux
- Short term memory loss
- Nervous breakdown
- Night sweats
- Hallucinations
- Dry mouth
- Hip pain
- Heavy legs
- Vomiting
- Congestion
- Thyroiditis
- Restless legs
- Chin swelling
- Inflammation of old injuries
- Post covid diabetes
- Phlegm
- Sensitivity to light, sound, movement
- Tingling of extremities
- Sinus swelling
- Hives
- Low body temperatures
- Low blood pressure
- High blood pressure
- Requiring reading glasses
- Excessive bleeding gums
- Excessive rectal bleeding
- Rheumatoid arthritis flare-up
- Swelling in extremities
- Burning in intestines/gastric area
- Metallic taste in mouth
- Dizziness
- Dysphagia issues
- Water on the knee
- Lower back pain
- Numbness in arms, necks, face
- Swollen temples
- Migraines
- Feeling feverish without a temperature
- burning/fizzing sensation in body parts
- Random bruising
- low/high blood sugar
- Spontaneous lactation
- Fluid retention
- Red marks on body after resting that last for hours
- Bruising under nails
- Breast pain and lumps
- Shooting neuropathy
- Coughing up blood
- Blood in urine and stools
- Localised swelling in feet
- Conjuctivitis
- Nausea
- Earache
- Toothache
- Itchiness/burning eyes
- Low oxygen levels
- Trouble trying to form words
- Blocked ears
- Trouble focusing attention
- Balance issues
- Pressure behind the eyes
- No grip or strength in fingers
- Sensitivity in the head
- Sore gums
- White tongue
- Pins and Needles
- Mouth tingling
- Skin sensations on hands and arms