Coronavirus symptoms can last for weeks or months – long-term sufferers also have to face scepticism and disbelief
- Debilitating fatigue and breathing problems are common complaints among survivors; others include a racing heart, rashes and confusion
- Many long-term sufferers feel that no one is listening to them, and they face scepticism from doctors
They call themselves “long-haulers”, “long-tailers”, or simply survivors. Some have been sick almost as long as the new coronavirus is known to have existed.
Six months after the virus began to scorch its way across the planet, it is becoming clear that Covid-19 causes far more symptoms than first suspected. Thousands of people of all ages are staying ill for weeks or even months.
British forensic psychiatrist Jenny Judge began an odyssey of illness in March with a fever, cough, headache and breathing problems. She has since experienced waves of other symptoms including a racing heart, scalding rashes and “Covid toes”, which were itchy and ulcerated. At one point she was so delirious she heard her dogs talking, and was not particularly surprised.
“Now I am going through a belly phase,” she said on day 111 of her ordeal.
A study of 143 recovered hospital patients in Italy, published in the JAMA Network journal last week, found that 87 per cent were still suffering at least one symptom 60 days after falling ill. Fatigue and breathing difficulties were most common.