5 Management

These recommendations are for healthcare professionals providing care for people with ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 or post-COVID-19 syndrome in primary care and community settings or in multidisciplinary assessment and rehabilitation services.

There are established treatments for managing the common symptoms often seen with ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 syndrome, as set out in current national and local guidance, which can be followed for symptomatic relief. However, there is a lack of evidence for pharmacological interventions to treat the condition itself.

5.1 Self-management and supported self-management

5.1.1

Give advice and information on self-management to people with ongoing symptomatic COVID‑19 or post‑COVID‑19 syndrome, starting from their holistic assessment. This should include:

  • ways to self-manage their symptoms, such as setting realistic goals

  • who to contact if they are worried about their symptoms or they need support with self‑management

  • sources of advice and support, including support groups, social prescribing, online forums and apps

  • how to get support from other services, including social care, housing and employment, and advice about financial support

  • information about new or continuing symptoms of COVID-19 that the person can share with their family, carers and friends (see section 9 on common symptoms).

    Advice for patients on managing common symptoms is available from the Your COVID Recovery website and NHSinform website. [2020]

5.1.2

Explain that it is not known if over-the-counter vitamins and supplements are helpful, harmful or have no effect in the treatment of new or ongoing symptomatic COVID‑19 or post-COVID-19 syndrome.

For a short explanation of why the panel made these recommendations, see the rationale section on self-management and supported self-management.

Full details of the evidence and the panel's discussion are in:

5.2 Multidisciplinary rehabilitation

Definition

Rehabilitation: a set of interventions designed to optimise functioning, health and wellbeing, and reduce disability in people with health conditions in interaction with their environment. In the context of ongoing COVID-19 symptoms, this may include providing information, education, supported self-management, peer support, symptom management strategies and physical rehabilitation. (Informed by the World Health Organization's fact sheet on rehabilitation.)

5.2.2

Work with the person (and their family or carers, if appropriate) to develop a personalised rehabilitation and management plan that is recorded in a rehabilitation prescription and should include:

  • areas of rehabilitation and interventions based on their assessment

  • helping the person to decide and work towards goals

  • how to manage and monitor their symptoms, taking into account that these may fluctuate, and what to do if symptoms return or change. [2020, amended 2021]

5.2.3

Provide extra time or additional support (such as an interpreter or advocate) to people who would benefit during their consultations. [2020, amended 2021]

For a short explanation of why the panel made these recommendations, see the rationale section on multidisciplinary rehabilitation.

Full details of the evidence and the panel's discussion are in:

5.3 Additional support

5.3.1

Consider additional support for people with ongoing symptomatic COVID‑19 or post‑COVID‑19 syndrome who may be vulnerable, for example, older people and people with complex needs. Additional support may include short‑term care packages, advance care planning and support with social isolation, loneliness and bereavement, if relevant. [2020, amended 2021]

5.3.2

Consider referral from 4 weeks for specialist advice for children and young people with ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 or post-COVID-19 syndrome. [2020, amended 2021]

For a short explanation of why the panel made these recommendations, see the rationale section on additional support.

Full details of the evidence and the panel's discussion are in: