How long do you feel sick with covid
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Duration of Illness with COVID-19: Acute and Long-Term Symptoms
Acute COVID-19 Symptoms Duration
Incubation Period and Initial Symptoms
COVID-19 symptoms typically begin to appear within 2 to 5 days after exposure to the virus, although it can take up to 14 days for symptoms to manifest in some cases3 5. The most common initial symptoms include cough, fever, chills, and shortness of breath, along with fatigue, muscle aches, headache, and loss of smell or taste3.
Long COVID: Persistent Symptoms Beyond Acute Phase
Definition and Prevalence
Long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), is characterized by symptoms that persist for at least four weeks after the initial infection1 4. Studies indicate that a significant proportion of individuals experience long COVID, with symptoms lasting for months. For instance, 13.3% of individuals reported symptoms lasting 28 days or more, 4.5% for 8 weeks, and 2.3% for 12 weeks or longer4.
Common Long COVID Symptoms
The most frequently reported long COVID symptoms include fatigue, dyspnea (shortness of breath), olfactory dysfunction (loss of smell), myalgia (muscle pain), and gustatory dysfunction (loss of taste)1 4 7. Other persistent symptoms can include headaches, attention disorders, and neuropsychological disturbances such as difficulties with memory and concentration6 7.
Duration of Long COVID Symptoms
Short-Term Persistence (1.5 to 6 Months)
In non-hospitalized individuals, symptoms can persist for 1.5 to 6 months after the onset of COVID-19. A study found that while many individuals reported fewer symptoms over time, a notable percentage continued to experience issues such as dyspnea, loss of smell, and loss of taste2.
Long-Term Persistence (12 to 18 Months and Beyond)
Long COVID symptoms can persist for a year or more. Research indicates that up to 60% of patients may still experience symptoms such as fatigue and dyspnea 17 months after hospitalization8. Another study found that 38% of patients had persistent symptoms even after 22.6 months, highlighting the potential for very long-term health impacts6.
Factors Influencing Long COVID
Risk Factors
Several factors increase the likelihood of developing long COVID. These include older age, higher body mass index (BMI), female sex, and experiencing more than five symptoms during the first week of illness4 6. Additionally, the number of comorbidities and the severity of symptoms during the acute phase are significant predictors of persistent symptoms2 6.
Conclusion
The duration of illness with COVID-19 varies significantly between the acute phase and long COVID. While acute symptoms typically appear within 2 to 5 days and can last up to two weeks, long COVID symptoms can persist for months or even years. Understanding the prevalence and risk factors associated with long COVID is crucial for developing effective treatment and rehabilitation strategies.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Symptoms and signs of long COVID: A rapid review and meta-analysis
Long COVID symptoms include fatigue, dyspnea, olfactory dysfunction, myalgia, cough, and gustatory dysfunction, with high heterogeneity in meta-analysis affecting pooled incidence estimates.
Meta-Analysis
Rigorous JournalPersistent symptoms 1.5–6 months after COVID-19 in non-hospitalised subjects: a population-based cohort study
Persistent symptoms in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients are associated with comorbidities and the number of symptoms during the acute phase.
Observational StudyRigorous Journal
Highly CitedCOVID‐19
COVID-19 symptoms include cough, fever, chills, and shortness of breath, but may also cause fatigue, muscle aches, headache, loss of smell or taste, congestion, and nausea.
Attributes and predictors of long COVID
Long COVID symptoms, characterized by fatigue, headache, dyspnea, and anosmia, are more likely with increasing age, BMI, and female sex, and a simple model can identify individuals at risk early in the disease.
Observational StudyRigorous JournalHighly CitedThe Incubation Period of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) From Publicly Reported Confirmed Cases: Estimation and Application
The median incubation period for COVID-19 is 5.1 days, similar to SARS, supporting current quarantine or active monitoring recommendations for potential exposed individuals.
Meta-AnalysisRigorous JournalHighly CitedLong COVID in the Long Run—23-Month Follow-up Study of Persistent Symptoms
Long COVID symptoms, such as fatigue, affected taste and smell, and difficulties remembering and concentrating, may persist for months or years, with older age and acute phase symptoms being predictors.
Observational StudyRigorous JournalMore than 50 long-term effects of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis
80% of COVID-19 patients develop one or more long-term symptoms, with fatigue, headache, attention disorder, hair loss, and dyspnea being the most common.
Meta-AnalysisRigorous JournalHighly CitedThe Very Long COVID: Persistence of Symptoms after 12–18 Months from the Onset of Infection and Hospitalization
Post-COVID symptoms persist in up to 60% of patients, with complete (2 doses) vaccination at hospital admission being associated with the persistence of physical symptoms.
Observational StudyInferred duration of infectious period of SARS-CoV-2: rapid scoping review and analysis of available evidence for asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19 cases
Inferring the infectious period of COVID-19 from repeated diagnosis, viral loads, and replication data alone has limitations and potential patient recall bias, but data provides a preliminary evidence base for models.
Systematic ReviewRigorous JournalHighly Cited