Guidance

9 Common symptoms

9 Common symptoms

Symptoms after acute COVID-19 are highly variable and wide ranging. The most commonly reported symptoms include (but are not limited to) the following:

Respiratory symptoms

  • Breathlessness

  • Cough

Cardiovascular symptoms

  • Chest tightness

  • Chest pain

  • Palpitations

Generalised symptoms

  • Fatigue

  • Fever

  • Pain

Neurological symptoms

  • Cognitive impairment ('brain fog', loss of concentration or memory issues)

  • Headache

  • Sleep disturbance

  • Peripheral neuropathy symptoms (pins and needles and numbness)

  • Dizziness

  • Delirium (in older populations)

  • Mobility impairment

  • Visual disturbance

Gastrointestinal symptoms

  • Abdominal pain

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Diarrhoea

  • Weight loss and reduced appetite

Musculoskeletal symptoms

  • Joint pain

  • Muscle pain

Ear, nose and throat symptoms

  • Tinnitus

  • Earache

  • Sore throat

  • Dizziness

  • Loss of taste and/or smell

  • Nasal congestion

Dermatological symptoms

  • Skin rashes

  • Hair loss

Psychological/psychiatric symptoms

  • Symptoms of depression

  • Symptoms of anxiety

  • Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder

The following symptoms and signs are less commonly reported in children and young people than in adults:

  • shortness of breath

  • persistent cough

  • pain on breathing

  • palpitations

  • variations in heart rate

  • chest pain.

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